Rylan Clark, the beloved TV and radio personality, has recently opened up about a harrowing period in his life following his divorce from ex-husband Dan Neal in 2021. In a candid interview on Jamie Laing’s “Great Company” podcast, Clark revealed that he experienced severe mental health issues that manifested in stroke-like symptoms, including loss of vision and speech.
Clark, 35, shared that the breakdown was so severe that he had to take an extended break from his professional commitments, something he had never done before. “I lost my speech. I lost my vision for a little bit. It was like having a really bad stroke,” he recounted. “It was just so bizarre. And yeah, it took me months to go back to work.”
The TV star, known for his vibrant personality and relentless work ethic, admitted that he was forced to take four to five months off to recover. During this time, he moved back in with his mother, as he felt unable to be alone in his own home. “I was living with my mum at the time because I didn’t want to be in my own house. I didn’t want to do nothing. I couldn’t be trusted to be perfectly honest. Yeah, it was bad. I just have to be honest,” he said.
Clark’s mental health struggles were compounded by the pressure he felt to maintain a “perfect life.” He described the experience as hitting a self-destruct button, saying, “I see it as like a self-destruct button, something in my mind was going to f*** up your seemingly perfect life. F*** it up, press this button and blow it all up. And I went, ‘Yeah.’ And what then unfolded was months of me thinking, ‘Why would I do that? Why would anyone want to blow up their perfect life?'”
Despite the severity of his breakdown, Clark has since made peace with the experience. He explained that understanding and learning from the ordeal helped him realize that he wasn’t “mad.” “It was just understanding things, learning new things and just realizing that I’m not f****** mad, basically,” he said. “I thought I was crazy. I was living with my mum at the time because I didn’t want to be in my own house. I didn’t want to do nothing. I couldn’t be trusted to be perfectly honest. Yeah, it was bad. I just have to be honest.”
Clark also emphasized the importance of self-care and reaching out for help. “From someone who’s been through it. Hate to say bite the bullet, but it’s true,” he advised. “You do need time, time does help. You do need to slow down, you do need to spend a bit of time on your own to actually love yourself and things that, it’s important that self-care is important.”
The TV personality’s openness about his mental health struggles has resonated with many, especially as he continues to thrive in his career. Clark currently hosts a Saturday afternoon radio show on BBC Radio 2, has his own podcast, and is involved in various TV projects, including traveling around Italy with Good Morning Britain star Rob Rinder for their series “Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour.”
Clark and Rinder’s close friendship has often sparked rumors of a romantic relationship, which Clark has consistently denied. “I’m not dating Rob Rinder; he’s one of my closest friends,” he clarified on social media. The duo’s travel series has been a therapeutic experience for Clark, who described it as liberating. “I have never felt more free than on this trip,” he said, with Rinder echoing the sentiment.
Reflecting on his journey, Clark expressed a sense of regret for not handling his breakdown differently but acknowledged that it was out of his control. “The only regret I’ve got from that is that I wish I’d never stopped and I’ve just dealt with it in a different way. But I didn’t. And then it was out of my control,” he said.
Clark’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health and the need to seek help when struggling. For those experiencing similar issues, he recommends reaching out sooner rather than later. “You do need time, time does help. You do need to slow down, you do need to spend a bit of time on your own to actually love yourself and things that, it’s important that self-care is important,” he reiterated.
As Clark continues to navigate his career and personal life, his honesty and vulnerability about his mental health journey have made him an even more relatable and admired figure. His story is a testament to the strength and resilience required to overcome such challenges and the importance of self-care and support.
Source: Great Company Podcast, Jamie Laing
