Rylan Clark's 'extremely traumatic' split from infidelity confession to co-star rumours

Wales Online

13-05-2025

Rylan Clark's 'extremely traumatic' split from infidelity confession to co-star rumours
Eurovision star Rylan Clark has had a tough few years after his six-year marriage to ex-husband Dan Neal broke down in 2021, leading to a period of deep depression and loneliness
TV personality Rylan Clark is set to join veteran BBC Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills in the commentary box for the hotly anticipated Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Semi-Final, to be broadcast on BBC One on May 13 and 15.
While achieving immense popularity following his stint on X Factor in 2012, Rylan has faced challenging times away from the limelight, grappling with personal issues since his split from Dan Neal in 2021.
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The 36-year-old met his former husband Dan during an eviction interview on Big Brother's Bit on the Side, and he has openly acknowledged that his infidelity contributed to their divorce.
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Rylan took to the media in June 2021 to address rumours about his and Dan's separation, saying: "Following reports about Dan and I spending time apart, I feel I have to speak out - as the way it is being reported is unfair."
Plagued by a severe bout of depression following the admission of his infidelities to Dan, Rylan has spoken about enduring what he calls an "extremely traumatic" period, reports the Irish Mirror.
Severe depression
Rylan sunk into a deep depression after his marriage broke down
(Image: YOUTUBE/RYLAN CLARK )
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In a chat with The Guardian, Rylan disclosed how deeply affected he was: "My body completely shut down. I wouldn't eat."
Sharing more about his distressing experience, he said: "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."
He also took a break from his BBC Radio 2 show. In conversation with The Guardian's Observer, he disclosed: "I'd got to the point where I didn't know if I wanted to come back.
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"Or whether I would be able to do this job again. I'd got... quite ill. I went down to just over 9st and I'm 6ft 4in. It got bad. Like, very bad. And I didn't think it would get better. I needed help."
Infidelities
Rylan Clark has always been honest about cheating on Dan
(Image: @rylan/Instagram )
In his memoir, Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future, Rylan acknowledged multiple infidelities during his six-year marriage.
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He revealed: "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. That nothing I was doing was right or not quite good enough."
Following his confession to Dan, Rylan was taken aback when his husband chose to leave, as he noted in his autobigraphy: "He left. Told me it was over and that was that. You're not surprised? I get that. But I couldn't believe it."
Lonely
Rylan suffered bouts of severe lonliness
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In the aftermath, Rylan sought solitude, focusing on personal reconstruction and wellness. He confided to Oti Mabuse and Emma Willis during a Red Nose Day hike: "I've personally had a bad few years with my mental health, with my physical health. I'm looking forward to doing this because I've rebuilt my life and rebuilt my body."
Reflecting on his recent past, Rylan shared: "The last few years my whole life completely changed, and the year after it happened I wasn't in the best place. Now I'm back to feeling normal. This year I've gone, 'Say yes to things you'd never say yes to'."
Co-star 'romance'
Rylan shut down romance rumours
(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA )
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There have been whispers about a special connection blossoming between Judge Rob Rinder and Rylan during the making of their Bafta Award-winning series Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour.
Rylan, who referred to the show as his "therapy" during his Bafta speech, took a moment on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners podcast to dismiss the gossip about a potential romance.
Clearing the air, Rylan quipped: "I find it funny because I adore him, but we are like a married couple; we row all the time and we don't have sex."
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Recent hints of finding new love
Rylan hinted he may have moved on
(Image: Getty Images )
More recently, while chatting with Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2, Rylan revealed that he had stepped away from dating apps, which set tongues wagging about a possible new love interest.
During an intriguing chat, Zoe remarked: "You've got a twinkle in your eye. I know you always have a twinkle in your eye, but that's a particularly big one," prompting Rylan to joke that he may just have a stye.
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When further prodded by the host, he admitted: "I'm not on the apps no more, I've come off all the apps and I'm alright."
Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Semi-Final, airing on BBC One, on May 13 and 15, at 8pm.