Rylan Clark has been presenting his BBC Radio 2 show since 2019 and has previously spoken about the differences between his on-screen persona and his real self

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Rylan Clark said ‘sorry’ to his co-star(Image: ITV)

Rylan Clark issued an apology to his BBC Radio 2 colleague after confessing he had revealed “the real me” during a broadcast. The 36-year-old has helmed the Saturday afternoon programme on the station since 2019.

He assumed control of the show when Zoe Ball moved to the coveted breakfast programme. However, Zoe departed the role last year, with former Radio 1 host Scott Mills now in charge.

The ex-X Factor participant has previously suggested that his flamboyant public image is “an act”, explaining the contrast between his private identity Ross – his actual name – and Rylan as “a Jekyll and Hyde thing”. In a previous interview with the Mail on Sunday’s You magazine, he disclosed he is “masculine” when off-camera.

He stated: “I’m probably one of the most masculine people you’ll ever meet and no one will f****** believe that.”

During yesterday’s show, Rylan experienced a moment where his “butch” persona emerged on air. Presenting his guest on the Couch Potatoes segment with a notably deeper voice, Rylan asked: “Do you think you’ve got what it takes to take him on?”

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Rylan presents a Saturday afternoon slot on Radio 2 (Image: Joe Maher, Getty Images)

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Rylan continued by saying “yeah” and encouraging his guest to “go on”. This prompted co-presenter Sally Boazman to remark: “You sounded so butch then Rylan, it frightened me.”

The radio host replied: “Sorry, it just comes over me every now and then. The real me comes out.”

The star has previously described being Rylan as “his job” admitting that when he goes home, he likes to settle down as Ross. He explained: “I could call Rylan a curse, but he’s made me a millionaire. I’m grateful to have been able to do the things I’ve done and had Rylan as the fall guy for it.

“Rylan is my job. If you’re a bus driver, when you go home you don’t sit in your lounge driving a bus. You sit there and watch telly. And that’s exactly what I do. I’m not Rylan when I’m at home so, the second the gate is shut, Rylan is left there, and then I’m Ross.”

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Rylan(Image: GETTY)

Rylan shot to stardom as an X Factor hopeful before stepping into the Celebrity Big Brother house. He claimed victory in the show during 2013, beating well-known personalities including Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.

His most recent television venture, Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India will carry on at 9pm tonight on BBC Two. The programme will feature Rylan, together with Rob Rinder, exploring the erotic temples of Khajuraho and cruising along the Ganges.

The show serves as a sequel to their BAFTA-winning Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, which featured the duo journeying across Italy. Rylan reveals the second series strengthened the tight bond the pair forged during their travels.

Speaking to Bella, he said: “We went into Grand Tour as acquaintances and left as friends. We’ve gone into A Passage to India as best friends and left as best friends.”