Rylan Clark has joked about his BBC salary after a travel disruption left him stranded in the south of France and unable to present his Radio 2 show. The presenter, 37, has become one of Britain's best-known TV and radio personalities since finding fame on The X Factor in 2012.
His latest comments have sparked fresh interest in his finances, with Celebrity Net Worth estimating his wealth at around $6 million (£4.87 million, based on the reported 2025 figure).
Stranded in Nice
Rylan was unable to return from Nice earlier this year after industrial action by French air traffic controllers disrupted his travel plans. He admitted he had taken a gamble by booking a flight home on the morning he was due to present his programme.
Speaking on Alan Carr's Life's A Beach podcast, Rylan recalled: "I was stranded in Nice, ain't it terrible? What a terrible place to be stranded, in the south of France."
He admitted the situation had partly been his own fault, adding that Radio 2 had "had a right go" at him over the mishap. However, he wasn't about to take all the blame, taking a cheeky swipe at his pay packet in the process.
"Weren't my fault there was a French air traffic control strike. What am I supposed to do? Walk? P*** off for the money they pay me. Thank you licence payers," he joked.
Career and net worth
His career began with a stint on The X Factor in 2012, where he finished fifth before going on to win Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. The victory helped launch his presenting career, with roles on Big Brother's Bit on the Side, This Morning and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.
He has also fronted Supermarket Sweep and hosted his own late-night chat show, Up Late with Rylan, alongside a string of radio and podcast projects. The reported net worth is an estimate rather than a confirmed breakdown of his personal finances, and does not necessarily reflect his current earnings.
Children in Need appearance
Despite his joking complaint about his Radio 2 salary, Rylan has continued to secure high-profile work with the corporation. He is set to join Alex Jones and Sara Cox on the presenting team for the BBC's annual Children in Need fundraising show on November 13.
The appearance marks another milestone for the presenter, who first took part in the charity campaign in 2019 through Radio 2's Great Ka-RY-Oke Challenge, when he sang continuously for 24 hours. Rylan said: "What an honour to be joining the BBC Children In Need presenting team this year."
He added that meeting young people at a project funded by the charity during his original challenge had shown him how important its support could be. Rylan said: "I can't wait to be part of the show on 13 November, to shine a light on some incredible young people and raise lots of money to help ensure every child has someone by their side when they need it most."
