In a remarkably candid and moving interview, television star Rylan Clark has laid bare the profound impact his marriage breakdown had on his mental health, confessing he was forced to 'disappear' from the public eye for five months.
The BBC Radio 2 host spoke with brutal honesty about hitting 'rock bottom' following his split from husband Dan Neal in 2021, a period so dark he believed he might never work in television again.
A Descent Into Crisis
Clark revealed the split triggered a catastrophic decline in his wellbeing. 'I didn't think I'd ever come back,' he admitted, describing a state of being where he was 'mentally and physically broken'. His illness was so severe it manifested physically, requiring significant medical intervention.
'I was properly not well, and I had to have a lot of help and a lot of treatment,' he shared, highlighting the very real physical consequences of a mental health crisis.
The Long Road to Recovery
His return to the spotlight was a carefully managed process. A guest appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside his mother was a pivotal moment, his first step back into the industry he thought he had lost forever.
Now, three years on, Clark speaks with hard-won perspective. While acknowledging he is 'so much better now', he was careful to clarify that the journey is ongoing, stating he is 'not fully fixed, and I don't think I ever will be'. His powerful admission serves as a testament to the long and non-linear nature of mental health recovery.
A New Chapter and a Message of Hope
Today, Clark has found happiness again, having moved on with former Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones. His story, from the depths of despair to finding stability and new love, offers a powerful message of hope to others struggling in silence.
By sharing the grim details of his five-month disappearance and his battle to rebuild himself, Rylan Clark continues to use his platform to champion mental health awareness, proving that even from the lowest point, recovery is possible.
