After sparking nationwide debate with an appearance on This Morning last month, Rylan Clark has confirmed that he’s not going anywhere.
The TV presenter, who rose to fame on The X Factor in 2012, was the catalyst for hundreds of Ofcom complaints around the daytime show over summer thanks to his rant about immigration.
At the time, Rylan, 36, stated that immigration is ‘helping this country to thrive’, but also expressed concerns about asylum seekers being routinely given ‘free iPads’, which is false. He further doubled down on his remarks with an Instagram statement, declaring: ‘You can still be pro immigration and against illegal routes’.
After 700 people filed official complaints about Rylan’s rant, making it one of the most complained-about TV moments of the year, his future on television came into question for some.
However, he’s now proven that he’s keen to stick around, having announced the launch of his new programme.
Taking to social media, Stanford-le-Hope-born Rylan revealed that he would be going back to his roots to front a mystical project for Sky History, titled Witches of Essex.
A synopsis from Sky reads: ‘Essex has a dark past, and Rylan and Professor Alice Roberts are teaming up to explore it.
‘With dozens of women murdered for accusations of witchcraft, prepare to discover the harrowing history of Essex.’
The network has confirmed that the show will land just in time for spooky season, premiering on Tuesday, October 14, at 9pm.
It’s certainly a different vibe to the one we’re used to from Rylan’s work, as fans typically enjoy his hilarious antics with his mum, Linda, on Celebrity Gogglebox, plus the light-heartedness of his BBC Radio 2 show.
In contrast, Witches of Essex has a more sinister feel, with a first-look glimpse depicting Rylan and Professor Roberts deep in the woods, an eerie soundtrack rumbling in the background below a howling wolf.
‘This isn’t fiction,’ warns Professor Roberts in the short clip.
‘This is Essex,’ declares Rylan.
The joint project has already generated huge interest off the back of Rylan’s travel show with Judge Rinder.
Taking to the star’s Instagram comments, @arobeef9272 wrote: ‘Can’t wait for this….2 of my favourite TV people.’
@chloegunn98 added: ‘Oooo this sounds so good!😍😍 xx’
‘Defo going to watch this 👌’, echoed @mandy_heaton.
Rylan’s announcement follows his temporary stint on This Morning over the summer break, as he filled in for regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
The controversy surrounding him was sparked due to a segment about Reform leader Nigel Farage’s proposal for mass deportation.
Amid a debate with journalist Camilla Tominey and The Apprentice aide Tim Campbell, Rylan gave an impassioned speech about the medical staff who helped his mum when she was poorly.
‘Legal immigration—a lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum’s life have come over here from other countries,’ he said. They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive.
‘I find it absolutely insane that all these people are risking their lives coming across the Channel.’
He then vented: ‘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.
‘”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”.’
Reiterating his thoughts in a subsequent Insta statement, he urged critics to ‘stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter’.
Some defended Rylan, such as celebrity pals Susanna Reid and Ronan Keating.
Others were keen to offer him education, explaining key points to Rylan, such as the fact that asylum seekers do not get iPads and that the Home Office has an obligation to provide them with basic support and necessities while destitute.
Witches of Essex begins on Sky History on Tuesday, October 14, at 9pm.
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