After experiencing both dating struggles and a “traumatic” divorce, This Morning’s Rylan Clark has now confirmed he’s happily moving forward in a new relationship
Last week, Rylan Clark revealed he is “happy” and “content” with a mystery partner he has been “seeing” for several months. During his latest BBC Radio 2 programme, the 36-year-old couldn’t help but gush over his new beau, who has already won over his colleagues.
Ahead of discussing the new chapter in his life on his show, Rylan also revealed his desire to build a family with his secret flame, on his How To Be In Love podcast. His love life admission comes after a difficult period in his personal life, which he has openly spoken about.
With the former X Factor contestant presenting ITV’s This Morning this week, we take a look into his previous frank revelations about his romantic journey.
Dating challenges and speculation
Prior to finding his current partner, the presenter admitted he struggled with dating, especially due to his celebrity status. In an interview with Bella Magazine, he explained: “I find it a lot more difficult because of my job. It can be tricky to know what someone wants from me.
“But what am I going to do, die alone with cats? I’m allergic to cats! You’ve got to put yourself out there.”
In 2022, Rylan dismissed claims that he was romantically involved with Declan Doyle after pictures emerged of them sharing a kiss.
After this public moment, he revealed he was single and had signed up to celebrity dating app Raya, in the hope of having “fun” with potential matches.
Later in his BBC travel documentary Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, he revealed he’d been on two dates over the previous two years, but nothing developed.
Speculation has also swirled that he and co-star Rob Rinder might be romantically involved, though he’s recently set the record straight on these claims.
Addressing the rumours on his BBC programme last week, he said: “There’s all these fake news stories about me and Rob Rinder – we’ve gotten married and all of this. Rob’s my friend. I adore him.”
Marriage and divorce
Rylan’s best known relationship was with his former husband Dan Neal, an ex-Big Brother contestant, whom he was married to for six years. The duo, who previously presented This Morning as a team, split in 2021 after the TV personality admitted to being unfaithful.
In his 2022 autobiography Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future, Rylan revealed he had cheated years earlier before coming clean about his betrayal, not expecting that Dan would walk away.
“I have no excuses for what I did way back then, but I had my reasons. I think for many years I had felt a bit like an imposter,” he wrote. “That nothing I was doing was right or not quite good enough.
“There were times when people told me this, and so confirmed my own self-doubts. And you know, when it’s those closest to you giving you this feedback, of course you take it to heart.”
Following his admission of infidelity, Rylan revealed that Dan declared “it was over” and walked away. “You’re not surprised? I get that. But I couldn’t believe it,” he penned.
Career break and declining health
Rylan stepped back from work for four months after his marriage collapsed, as his body “completely shut down”. The TV personality revealed he was hospitalised during this period after attempting to take his own life twice.
“I wouldn’t eat. I went through a stage where I couldn’t even talk, which for some people might be quite handy,” he shared on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast. “My speech was just slurred. My mum thought I was having a stroke.”
Looking back on this difficult chapter in a chat with The Sunday Times, Rylan remarked: “It feels like a different person now, that I’m talking about.
“I did not know who I was for that five months, but yeah, I did [try to end my life] – unsuccessfully, luckily. I genuinely felt like the world was against me.”
Speaking about the cardiac issues he also faced during this time, he continued: “I went into this thing called SCT [Supraventricular tachycardia], where my heart rate was way over double. And it just wouldn’t stop.”
Battles with fame
While Rylan’s health deteriorated after his marriage breakdown, the TV host reckons his jam-packed work diary didn’t do him any favours either. Speaking previously on the High Performance podcast, he explained: “I think my marriage ending was the catalyst for the machine stopping.
“But actually, it was nine years of never stopping and never having time to breathe and actually understand what happened to me. For five months I just stopped and shut down. I tried to take my own life. I tried to do it twice.”
Rylan shot to stardom on the X Factor in 2012 and has since flourished in the entertainment industry. His impressive portfolio spans presenting duties on This Morning, Big Brother, and Dating Naked UK.
The TV personality credits Big Brother with transforming his life, as he doesn’t believe he would’ve achieved his current success, or met his former spouse, without the show. After appearing as a contestant on the Celebrity edition, Rylan landed a hosting role on the programme.
“It gave me a career. It then gave me my husband and gave me the life I have now,” he revealed to iNews. “Without Big Brother, I don’t think any of this would have happened. It was the best apprenticeship I could have asked for.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, the Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
