Rylan Clark, best known for his stint on The X Factor in 2012, has achieved a lifelong ambition by working as a cabin crew member for Virgin Atlantic. The 35-year-old presenter boarded a flight from London to Miami, not as a passenger, but as part of the airline's crew, donning the iconic Vivienne Westwood uniform.
After training with the Economy team, Clark took to the skies at 38,000 feet, delivering welcome announcements and entertaining passengers with his charm. He also mixed drinks and used his television experience to engage holidaymakers throughout the flight.
The experience comes amid research commissioned by Virgin Atlantic, which found that two-thirds of travellers believe their in-flight experience can make or break a holiday. Key factors for a positive experience include warm cabin crew (75%), good food and drink (61%), and personal touches (41%).
Flight service manager Ombi Farr praised Clark, saying, 'It was a pleasure having Rylan onboard to test out his service skills. He brought the energy, warmth and fun that our customers know and love.' Chief customer and operating officer Corneel Koster added, 'Rylan has that natural warmth and amazing personality that our crew are famous for.'
However, Clark's bubbly nature led to a minor mishap when he was caught taking an unscheduled snack break and getting distracted by children's in-flight activity packs. The research also revealed that 80% of holidaymakers believe a great flight enhances their overall holiday enjoyment.
This is not Clark's first foray into roles outside the spotlight. In March 2024, he worked at Tesco to promote new lower Clubcard prices, much to the delight of fans on social media.
