Rylan Clark has confirmed his last day covering as a presenter for This Morning
Rylan Clark has confirmed that today (Friday 29 August) is his last day covering as a presenter for This Morning over the summer break. This comes after he received immense backlash for his comments over immigration, for which he later issued a statement. Opening the ITV daytime programme today with Josie Gibson, Rylan began: “Last day today!” “What a week,” Josie replied.
The TV stars have been stepping in for Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard over the summer break alongside the likes of Joel Dommett, Emma Willis, Olivia Attwood and Dermot O’Leary. Like Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard taking over for Lorraine Kelly on her programme, and the likes of Charlotte Hawkins and Kate Garraway stepping in for Susanna Reid, Rylan and Josie were among the famous faces to present This Morning, having sat on the blue sofa this week
Their time on the show however was embroiled in controversy during a divisive debate about immigration, amid protests taking place across the UK over the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers.
Rylan Clark and Josie Gibson hosted Friday’s This Morning (Image: ITV)
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During a discussion over the mass deportation plans proposed by Nigel Farage – who said he would deport hundreds of thousands illegal migrants over five years if he were to come into power – Rylan revealed his own thoughts on immigration.
The former X Factor star said that although immigration has been a key part of this country’s history, culture and the building of its society and how doctors who are immigrants helped to save his mum’s life, he thinks there needs to be a policy to stop small boats crossing the Channel.
He said: “[The UK] is built on immigration. Legal immigration — a lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum’s life, have come over here from other countries. They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive.”
Rylan was hit with immense backlash for his comments over immigration (Image: ITV)
He went on: “I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel.
“And when they get here, it does seem, and I think this is why a lot of Labour voters as well are saying there’s something wrong, it feels like, ‘Welcome, come on in’. That’s the narrative we’re being fed.”
Rylan went on to claim asylum seekers are given an iPad, saying: “Here’s the iPad. Here’s the NHS in reception of your hotel. Here’s three meals a day. Here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome.”
He continued: “There are people that have lived here all their lives that are struggling. They’re homeless. Let’s not even discuss our homeless. There are people living on the streets, veterans, all of this.”
Rylan rose to fame on The X Factor and is now a presenter (Image: Getty)
His comments prompted widespread backlash, though he later doubled down in a statement on Instagram addressing the outrage, which read: “You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes.
“You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women.
“You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. The list continues.
“Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter.”
Rylan issued a statement on social media after the backlash (Image: Getty)
Though many fans replied saying he was “spreading misinformation” and were “disappointed” to hear his views on the matter, others backed Rylan including his co-stars Josie and Rob Rinder, who commented their support on his post.
Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, began presenting This Morning not long after, and regularly appears on the show alongside the likes of Ruth Langsford and Alison Hammond.
In an interview with Metro last year, the star addressed his public persona and the side of him he keeps away from fans.
When asked if the Rylan that fans know is a persona or the real him, Rylan replied: “I think that is the real me. There’s elements of the real me definitely. But I think as time has gone on, I’ve sort of started to realize that I can keep some of me for myself, and whoever I’m with.
Rylan and Josie’s time presenting This Morning this week has come to an end (Image: ITV)
“So, yeah, Rylan at work is Rylan 2.0, it’s a little bit more higher pitch voice… whereas in real life, pretty much wearing grey jogging bottoms, drinking a Peroni… very different.”
He added that he “100%” feels pressure to maintain “Rylan 2.0” adding: “You know, there are some days where I’m sat here with no tan on and I’m just sitting here normally, like, it’s lovely.
“But at the end of the day, I sort of made a face and person, in a weird way, and that’s what people expect. So you’ve got to give it to them. If I walk out with no f**king makeup on people will think I’m dead.”
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.