Rylan Clark has spoken candidly about his fears for the future without his mum Linda, making an emotional admission about what he hopes to find in a partner when she is no longer around.
The BBC Radio 2 presenter, who has been caring for his mum while she has been unwell, opened up about how his relationship with her has shaped his outlook on love.
Rethinking after divorce
Speaking to Closer magazine, Rylan also revealed how his marriage breakdown from Dan Neal in 2021 changed what he wanted from a relationship, before finding happiness again with funfair boss Kennedy Bates.
"I think when you go through a divorce, it makes you rethink. 'What do I want? Who am I? What do I want from a relationship? What do I want to be like in a relationship?'" he said.
Rylan, who married Dan when he was 27, admitted he had been relatively inexperienced when it came to being single, having met his former husband at the age of 24.
"It took me a good four or five years to meet Kennedy. I dated. I did that first year of, 'I don't give a f**k.' I met my ex-husband when I was 24 – I was really young – and I got married at 27. I was never Rylan and single, if that makes sense? I had my mental year of running around kissing people and whatever."
What Rylan wants in a partner
However, the presenter eventually realised that he wanted something more settled, with the simple comfort of having someone waiting for him at home.
"But I soon realised, 'No, I know what I want. I want to get home and someone's there, and I want them to get home and I'm there.'"
He then made an emotional admission about his mum Linda, explaining how her importance in his life had influenced the way he viewed his future with a partner.
"Ultimately, the way that I look at it is, I want to be with a person that, God forbid when my mum's not here any more, they're going to be there for me."
Rylan added that he now feels he has found someone who gives him that reassurance, despite acknowledging that relationships are never completely straightforward.
"I feel like I've got to that point where I met someone and went, 'Hang on a minute. This this is right.' Is it all plain sailing? No, because it's a relationship. But would I want it any other way? No."
Birthday plans scaled back
His comments come after Rylan revealed he had scaled back his birthday plans after a difficult week at home, as he put his attention towards caring for his mum.
The presenter, who turned 38 on October 25, discussed his plans while chatting to Ellie Taylor on BBC Radio 2, where colleagues had also surprised him with a cheeky birthday card.
Opening up about why he would not be celebrating in style, Rylan said: "Not much. Actually, I'm not having, like, a big one or anything like that this birthday. I've been looking after Linda this week; she's been a bit poorly. Little bit poorly sick."
He explained that he planned to enjoy a quiet drink and some lunch before returning to his caring responsibilities.
"So tonight, I'll probably have a little beverage. And then tomorrow, probably have, like, a little bit of lunch. And then, I'll be back to nursing duties. I feel like Florence Nightingale."
