‘I’d head for the pregnancy tests!’
Back for a second series after the classic game show was rebooted last year, Rylan Clark-Neal, 31, prepares to go wild in the aisles…
How has lockdown been for you? Probably quite similar to most people – I definitely had a bit of a declutter! But I’m lucky because I have a house and a garden – I know people have had it a lot worse, so you won’t find me complaining.
What was the first thing you did when lockdown relaxed?
I had to go and see mummy Linda! We missed the first three weeks of Celebrity Gogglebox because I didn’t want anyone saying my mum wasn’t doing the right thing, but as soon as we could have a bubble we started filming it.
Any changes to Sweep this year? The supermarket is back in all its glory – fully stocked, inflatables and all – and ready for action. There are a couple of new games, including one involving a hand-held scanner, and the supermarket has its very own loyalty card. We mean business! What about filming with the new restrictions? We didn’t want to make it all about lockdown – we still wanted to make it the Sweep everyone knows and loves, but obviously safety was the number one priority. However, for viewers, it will look and feel very much the same – which is exactly what I’d hoped.
And Jennie McAlpine is back as the voice on the tannoy…?
I love Jennie – we always have such a laugh. She’s a lot of fun and so it’s amazing to have her back as the voice of the supermarket.
There are six celebrity specials coming up?
We have such a great selection of celebs – everyone wants to have a go at Sweep! We’ve got Dame Martine of McCutcheon with her lovely husband Jack, Scarlett Moffatt, Jacqueline Jossa – plus Joel Dommett, Denise Van Outen and Jordan Banjo. We’ve also got Joanna Page and Melanie Walters, who plays Gwen in Gavin & Stacey, and Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph – so we’ve got a little Birds of a Feather team going on.
Do you act differently when it’s celeb contestants?
Yeah, I’m little bit tougher with them, so they get bullied a bit more. But don’t worry – they definitely give it back to me! Who would you love to have on? All five Spice Girls, obviously – and throw in David Beckham to make up the numbers.
What products would you head for if you were a contestant?
I don’t want to give away my secrets, but let’s just say pregnancy tests, motor oils and saffron. They’re very expensive. Which aisle can’t you stop yourself from visiting?
Oh, the cleaning aisle! I’ve got every cleaning product on earth. If I see something with a new bottle or fragance, I’m all over it.
And the show’s in a new daytime slot on ITV?
It was amazing to have the platform of ITV2 last year, but it feels like Sweep is coming home. We’ve had such a range of contestants of all ages, from 80 to 20 year olds. Everyone is welcome to go wild in the aisles in my supermarket!
When you’re out shopping are people always trying to check out your basket – so to speak?! [Laughs.] I shop online these days, so no one’s checking out my basket – apart from the delivery drivers!