RYLAN has vowed he’ll never turn down the opportunity for a selfie and chat with a fan – and has the sweetest reason why.
The 35-year-old, who first found fame on X Factor in 2012, has become one of the hardest working men in UK entertainment.
But to make sure he remembers his roots, Rylan goes out of his way to make sure his fans feel appreciated just as much as they supported him.
So, after more than a decade in the industry, he wants to make sure he remembers who gave him the life he leads now.
“If I’m walking about and someone asks for a photo I will always stop because my whole life was a public vote at one point,” Rylan told The Mirror.
“If it weren’t for the public, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing in the first place.”
Rylan – who has since gone on to host his own BBC Radio 2 show, documentaries and Strictly Come Dancing chat show It Takes Two among other projects – was 23 when he appeared on X Factor, and won fans over with his cheeky charm.
He ended up placing fifth, despite not being the strongest singer.
After winning Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, he turned his shot at pop stardom into a presenting career by hosting the reality show’s spin-off, Big Brother’s Bit On The Side.
During the chat, the star jokes he’s “done alright” for himself, but admits he discovered quickly the industry was “full of a**holes” and he didn’t intend to be one of them.
Since then, dozens of people from across the industry have praised him for being a close friend and confidante – including Ruth Langsford, who he helped cope after the death of her sister,
In an unlikely friendship, comedian James Acaster claims Rylan ‘watched over’ him when they appeared on Bake Off together and he was privately suffering from depression and mental health problems – even dedicating a segment of one of his stand-up shows to the emotional support he gave him.
Most recently, it was revealed Rylan also aided Lucy Spraggan after she was sexually assaulted at a hotel while filming X Factor, something that remained a secret until late 2023 when she decided to open up about it for the first time.
Now, he’s due to return to our screen with his most bonkers project yet – having spent a month filming new reality show, Dating Naked UK.
Writing on social media he said: “A month on an island in Colombia shooting Dating Naked UK. The best times, The best people, The best memories. Coming soon.”
Dating Naked UK will be a ten-episode reality TV programme following contestants living together and looking for that special connection in their birthday suits.
The one-hour episodes are expected to premiere on Paramount+ in the UK later this year.
