Rylan Clark says his camp TV persona is just a huge act and he is actually a secret macho man.
The popular presenter and former X Factor star, 35, claims behind closed doors he’s more like fellow West Ham fan Ray Winstone. Revealing his Jekyll and Hyde-style personality, he said: “I’m probably one of the most masculine people you’ll ever meet and no one will f**king believe that.”
Born Ross Richard Clark in Stepney, east London, Rylan chose his performing name from a baby-name book after he started modelling aged 16.
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The host said he reverts to being Ross – who likes a beer and watching Hammers games on his sofa – when he’s clocked off performing.
He added: “It’s definitely a Jekyll and Hyde thing. I could call Rylan a curse, but he’s made me a millionaire. I’m grateful to have been able to do the things I’ve done and had Rylan as the fall guy for it.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Rylan is my job. If you’re a bus driver, when you go home you don’t sit in your lounge driving a bus. You sit there and watch telly.
“And that’s exactly what I do. I’m not Rylan when I’m at home so, the second the gate is shut, Rylan is left there, and then I’m Ross.”
Rylan described Ross as a normal bloke who he says “for want of a better term” has a “heterosexual-man blueprint brain”.
He added: “That is, I wanted to grow up, get married, have the 2.4 kids, have a nice house and a great job. But I just want to do that with another male… I see my role in society as being that guy with the big teeth who goes on telly, hopefully entertains people and then I go home and live a normal life.”
Rylan grew up in a London council house with his now Gogglebox-sidekick mum Linda, 71, and older half-brother Jamie until they moved to Essex when he was 11.
(Image: Rylan Clark Instagram)
He shot to fame thanks to his performances and wailing meltdown on X Factor in 2012. He went on to win Celebrity Big Brother and has presented shows including Supermarket Sweep, Ready Steady Cook and the Eurovision Song Contest.
The secret ‘lad’ married Big Brother contestant Dan Neal in 2015 but they split when he confessed to cheating.
Rylan – who’s worth around £5million – added about his desire to settle down with a family: “I always said I’d have them when I’d got enough money to support them even if I never worked again. And I’ve got it.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
