Rylan Clark's real name, impressive career, marriage breakdown ...

20 Sep 2024

Rylan Clark is one of the UK and Ireland's most popular TV and radio presenters in recent years.

Rylan skyrocketed to fame on the 2012 series of The X Factor, and after a successful stint on Celebrity Big Brother a couple of months after, a booming career in broadcasting beckoned toward him.

Rylan Clark - Figure 1
Photo RSVP Live

He has hosted chat shows such as This Morning and Strictly: It Takes Two, as well as a successful Saturday show on BBC Radio 2. In his personal life, the star has faced turmoil in recent years following the breakdown of his marriage to Dan Neal.

Read more: Alison Hammond’s lifestyle change after opening up about 11 stone weight loss

Read more: Dermot O'Leary's family life with TV director wife and baby son

Real name

Rylan is certainly a distinct name in the showbiz industry, so much so that he is often referred to by only his first name as opposed to including Clark. However, it turns out it's not his real name.

Rylan is actually called Ross Richard Clark, and settled on a stage name when he saw a baby name book in his local WH Smith and found it under the 'R' section. When he auditioned for The X Factor, he did so under his new moniker.

The broadcaster says Rylan and Ross are "two different people", explaining in his autobiography Ten: "Rylan is all smiles, always in make-up. Ross is a bit more Peroni, one hand down the tracksuit. That is Ross."

Rylan Clark - Figure 2
Photo RSVP Live
X Factor and Celebrity Big Brother

Rylan rose to fame in 2012 when he took part in The X Factor. He was often criticised by judge Gary Barlow for his singing skills but quickly became a fan favourite with the nation and placed fifth.

"I wanted people to notice me, I wanted the attention," Rylan previously told the Guardian.

"Once I was on the show, I learned very quickly what my role was. I was the gay stereotype who's not good at singing. I thought, 'All right. I won't sing, and I'll wear a light-up outfit or dress like an Egyptian. Or a onesie to go to Tesco. I'll play the game.

"That's what you want, that's what you'll get. I know I'll get an opportunity to show you all who I really am."

In January 2013, Rylan became a housemate on Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother and won the show, which catapulted him into a stellar presenting career.

Rylan on The X Factor in 2012 (Image: ITV) TV and radio work

Rylan has gone on to become one of The X Factor's biggest success stories, albeit for his presenting skills and not singing.

He hosts a weekly radio show on BBC Radio 2, hosts a pop culture podcast with Scott Mills on BBC Sounds and is part of the BBC's Eurovision coverage team.

Rylan Clark - Figure 3
Photo RSVP Live

And on top of that, he has a long list of television hosting credits to his name:

This Morning Supermarket Sweep Strictly: It Takes Two Dating Naked UK Big Brother: Bit on the Side Up Late with Rylan Ready Steady Cook Babushka The Xtra Factor The One Show Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour

In addition to the above, Rylan has appeared on Celebrity MasterChef and Celebrity Gogglebox.

Rylan Clark and Josie Gibson on This Morning (Image: Instagram) Divorce

Rylan got engaged to Big Brother contestant Dan Neal in September 2014, with the pair tying the knot the following November.

However, in 2021 he announced that they were going their separate ways after six years of marriage due to Rylan being unfaithful.

The presenter took four months off work and spent time in hospital due to issues with his mental health.

Opening up about the impact his marriage split had on him, he told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: "My body did completely shut down. I wouldn't eat. I went through a stage where I couldn't even talk, which for some people might be quite handy.

"My speech was just slurred. My mum thought I was having a stroke. My body just went. I went down to 9st and I am six-foot-four."

Rylan sought help and is in a much better place now, but keeps details of his romantic life away from the public eye.

Join RSVP Live's WhatsApp community to get celebrity news and our top stories

Scan to join the RSVP WhatsApp community

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.

Read more
Similar news
This week's most popular news