Rylan Clark, the 37-year-old presenter, found himself stranded in Nice, France, after widespread flight cancellations across Europe disrupted his travel plans. He was due to host his BBC Radio 2 Saturday show, a slot he has held since 2019, but was unable to return home, prompting a last-minute replacement.
Phone Call with Emma Willis
Speaking to friend Emma Willis via phone from France, Rylan explained the situation: 'I decided to go away with my partner and a couple of my friends to Nice for a few days and just, you know, enjoy the sun! I didn't have work this week; I managed to clear my diary, and I was like, "That's amazing." And then I was flying back very early this morning. Went to the airport, and it was like, "No!" And I was like, "Sorry?"'
Rylan, who began dating fairground worker Kennedy Bates last summer, revealed that he even considered extreme measures to make it back, including an eight-hour train ride that 'still would have made [him] late for work'. Ultimately, he decided to stay put.
Attempts to Get on a Flight
He confessed to trying the 'Do you know who I am?' card at the airport, something he insisted he 'never' does. 'I think there will be photographic evidence of me at the front of that queue, going, "Excuse me, lady!"' he joked.
Rylan confirmed that Mark Goodier, 65, would be stepping in for him. Goodier has been covering various slots on Radio 2 for the past year, including breakfast, mid-morning, and afternoon shows, and is also on rotation for Drivetime until Sara Cox's replacement is confirmed.
Gratitude and Lighthearted Reaction
'A massive thank you to Mark,' praised Rylan. He added: 'I thought, I can either really stress myself out about this and sweat my Victoria Beckham foundation off my forehead, or I'm just gonna have to swallow it and deal with it and go, "What a shame"', noting there are 'worse places to be'. He concluded: 'I've just had a nice rosé with some ice cubes in it. Gonna go and sit by the pool, and wish everyone well.'
After the clip was shared on social media, the This Morning host commented playfully: 'So unprofessional'. On Instagram Story, he posted a selfie showcasing his tan, writing: 'Soz about todays show. I blame everyone but myself. Genuinely had it all sussed out and then flights all cancelled. Thanks Mark for stepping in you legend. Gonna have a rosé and think of you all.'
Listener Reactions
Listeners were understanding, with comments like 'I think you will be forgiven Rylan not your fault.enjoy your extra day!!' from @lanzamel and 'Ah we missed you today!' from @angienortham. Others noted that Rylan will also be absent next Saturday, with Joel Dommett sitting in after Emma's lunchtime show.
Wider Travel Chaos
Rylan is not alone in facing travel disruptions. A heatwave, which broke records for the hottest June day at 37.3°C, has strained rail infrastructure, forcing reduced schedules. According to FlightAware, 484 inbound and outbound flights were delayed across Gatwick and Heathrow airports by evening, with Heathrow seeing 42% of flights delayed and Gatwick 50%.
The amber warning for extreme heat is set to end from Sunday morning, though 'spikes' of 'above average' temperatures are expected throughout July and August.
