Rylan Clark has addressed the 'real reason' he has quit his role on the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show as he spoke about his exit for the first time. The TV and radio star left fans gutted last week after confirming that he'd be stepping back from his hosting role on Strictly: It Takes Two after four years ahead of the BBC dance contest's return later this year.
Rylan, who joined the show in 2019 as Zoe Ball's co-host before his fellow Radio 2 star left and was replaced by Strictly's former professional dancer Janette Manrara, said he was leaving his presenting role on the weeknight BBC2 show to "pass on the baton to someone else and explore what else life has for me".
In a statement shared on social media, the 34-year-old wrote: "I’ve had the best time hosting the show alongside Janette and Zoe and I can’t thank the amazing team enough for always putting on a great show. I’ve been welcomed into the Strictly family and will firmly hold that title dear to me.
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"The time has come for me to pass on the baton to someone else and explore what else life has for me." He movingly concluded his message: "Thank you Strictly, you will always have my heart… and dancing feet."
Sppear on his Radio 2 show Rylan On Saturday, the former Celebrity Big Brother winner addressed his exit for the first time since the announcement: "So I just want to say publicly to all the Strictly family, I love you dearly for the last four years," he said before continuing: "Can I just confirm please as well, I’m seeing all the rumours. Please carry on with your rumours, I ain’t going anywhere darling."
Appearing to address the 'real reason' for him stepping back, he added: "It was just my time to say thank you and you know, go, and I don’t know, sit indoors in my pyjamas for a bit." Rylan will continue to provide the BBC’s commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest this May as well as doing his Radio 2 show, the BBC said.
He also thanked former long-time It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball and professional dancer Janette Manrara – who took over from her in 2021 – along with Strictly presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. "It’s just been amazing, It’s just been so lovely and I love everyone well… " Rylan said. "So now I’ve got the certificate, I thought oh I might as well go now."
It comes after some were quick to speculate as to whether he had left It Takes Two in order to present another show... Big Brother! The popular reality show, which was axed five years ago by Channel 5, is returning on ITV2 this autumn, and Rylan has been widely rumoured to be returning after hosting the show's spin-off after winning the celeb version of the show.
But he was quick to shut down the claims, replying to a fan account begging: "Not that I am jumping to conclusions or anything but I AM JUMPING… It Tales Two was always going to clash… with Big Brother…?" Rylan then simply wrote in reply: "Ur jumping sadly x."
The BBC said It Takes Two will announce a new presenter in due course as executive producer of the Strictly spin-off series, Eve Winstanley, said the team will miss the presenter’s “boundless energy and love for entertaining viewers”.
Helen Skelton is reportedly being lined up to present spin-off show It Takes Two after the Countryfile star made it to the Strictly Come Dancing finals with Gorka Marquez last year. She is said to have held talks with bosses about hosting the popular spin-off backstage gossip and chat show on BBC Two.
It is understood conversations originally centred on a temporary role filling in for Strictly favourite Janette, who is expecting her first child with fellow pro dancer hubby Aljaž Škorjanec, reports The Mirror. But after Janette’s co-host Rylan announced last week that he was quitting, sources say bosses reckon former Blue Peter presenter Helen, 39, can fill his sparkly shoes.
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