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TV presenting fave Rylan explains why he’s shunning the limelight

Okay, so he's toothy and loud, but the fella says he's a homebody

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Okay, so he might have a tan as bright as the sun and teeth so bright they out-sparkle the twinkliest of stars in the sky, but Rylan Clark-Neal is adamant that he’s a shy retiring type.

Er, who are you trying to kid, Ry.

But thinking about it, maybe he is right.

Yeah, he may have extravagantly entertained us on The X Factor by singing and dancing like a Madonna backing dancer in flamboyant outfits, but in his real life, he isn’t a star like CBBBOTS occasional guest Lizzie Cundy, who turns up to the opening of a fridge door.

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“Anyone who knows me will say I’m the most normal bloke you’ll ever meet. I hate the showbiz scene,” says Rylan, 28

“I rarely do interviews, I didn’t sell my wedding photos [Rylan married Dan Neal in November 2015] as I want to keep my life private, and I hate any type of ‘launch’ – I get invited to everything and never go.”

He said the only premiere he’s ever really been to was Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and that was only because he was in the film and was hired to host the event.”

And the reason he has decided to snub the glittery trappings of fame? “Because it’s not real”, he says.

“Nothing’s real – everyone’s just being polite for the sake of being polite,” he told the Sun.

“They’re there because they’ve got a free night out or a car into London and a photo in a magazine. I don’t want my photo in a magazine.”

The incredibly honest presenter and author, whose new quiz Babushka, added: “I’m a bit of a weirdo. I just want to do my job and go home.

“And that surprises me sometimes because before all of this happened to me, I thought I would be the one who loved all of that. I’m not.”

Of course, in the early days of his career, he was a very different Rylan and was keen on being in the limelight and auditioned for Big Brother, appeared on Katie Price’s Signed By Katie talent show and of course, The X Factor.

“I always wanted this [fame], I just didn’t know when it would happen or what I’d be doing, then you get it and think: ‘I didn’t make the most of not being known.’ I’m 6ft 3in, so I can’t hide!” he explained.

“I wouldn’t change what I do for the world – I’m lucky and I love my job – I would just like to be forgotten about every now and again.

“I’m public property, the public put me where I am. They own me. Everyone’s lovely, don’t get me wrong, but you always have that worry: ‘What if someone’s not lovely?’”

But these days he’s happy to snuggle at home with his hairy hubby Dan Neal.

“Dan married Ross, he didn’t marry Rylan,” he said.

Eh? Ross? Who the hell is Ross? we hear you cry.

No folks Dan and Rylan aren’t some weird three-way relationship – Ross is actually Rylan’s real name.

Well, now you know.

“Who the hell wants to marry Rylan?!” Er good point, Ry. Well, actually…

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“I leave Rylan at my front door and then I’m Ross at home, that’s what Dan and my family call me.

“Then the second I walk out of that front door, I’m Rylan because everyone can see it. That’s the way I deal with it. It’s not a character or persona, it’s the same person, but Rylan gets away with a lot more.”


Christian Guiltenane
Freelance Writer

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