Rylan Clark takes subtle swipe at Phillip Schofield amid his 'fall' from fame
Rylan Clark has taken a subtle swipe at television presenter Phillip Schofield while discussing major scandals that have rocked the TV world over the past year.
The 34-year-old reality star shot to fame back in 2012 when he was a contestant on The X Factor and in the decade since, he has built up a presenting career - landing roles on Channel 5’s Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, taking to the sofa of ITV’s This Morning, and co-hosting the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. Earlier this year, there was frenzied speculation about the identity of a BBC presenter who had been found to have paid a drug-addled teenager tens of thousands of pounds in exchange for explicit photographs.
While speculation became near hysterical, Rylan’s name began to circulate online alongside other famous BBC stars including Gary Lineker and Jeremy Vine. Rylan quickly confronted the speculation, releasing a statement via social media writing: “Not sure why my names floating about but re that story … that ain't me babe. I'm currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so take my name out ya mouths.”
The man in question was eventually revealed to be BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, but now in an interview with The Telegraph, Rylan has addressed the moment he was caught up in the fringes of the story. He said: “But this is my point. One person would have said, ‘I’ve heard it’s Rylan,’ or, ‘I bet it’s Rylan,’ someone else sees that, and the next thing you know there’s a paper using my photo on the story.
“In this situation people are expecting you to bring in your PR company… But if I know I’ve done nothing wrong and my name is attached to something I’ll be the first one to say, it’s f—k all to do with me, wish everyone the best, and I’m out. Bye!”
Phillip Schofield mocks Molly-Mae's baby name in cruel swipe at Love Island starThe past year also saw the spectacular downfall of 61-year-old Phillip Schofield who quit ITV after admitting he had engaged in an ‘unwise, but not illegal’ affair with a much younger male colleague while still married. He later quit ITV altogether and was dropped by his management team when he claimed he had lied to colleagues, the press and his management team about the affair.
Phillip and This Morning have since been accused of peddling a ‘toxic’ work environment behind the scenes of the ITV show - and Rylan seemed to make reference to this too. He said: “The only time I ever get involved in something like that is when my name’s involved.”
He added: “Work hard, be decent to everybody and be nice to everyone on the way up, because everyone has a fall.” Since Phil’s fall, some former colleagues have stepped forward to slam him - including ex-This Morning host Eamonn Holmes who accused the disgraced star of being “passive-aggressive” and “snubbing people”.
The Mirror have contacted Rylan and Phillip's representatives for comment.