Rylan Clark Calls Himself a ‘Failure’ After Marriage Split from Dan Neal

Rylan Clark has reflected on the emotional turmoil he faced following his split from former husband Dan Neal. 

The TV presenter, 36, split with Dan in 2021 after six years of marriage when Rylan admitted he cheated on him. 

Now, four years on, he has spoken candidly about the devastating period that followed.

Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast How to Be… with Strictly’s Tasha Ghouri, Rylan admitted he ‘felt like a failure’ when his relationship came to an end. 

He said: ‘When I went through my divorce, I had a full-on breakdown because it wasn’t just us. 

‘It felt like it wasn’t just us, even though it was just me and my ex. I felt that everyone’s going to think this of me.’

Rylan Clark has reflected on the emotional turmoil he faced following his split from former husband Dan Neal

The TV presenter, 36, split with Dan in 2021 after six years of marriage when Rylan admitted he cheated on him

Now, four years on, he has spoken candidly about the devastating period that followed

He admitted: ‘Everyone’s going to think, ‘Oh look, his life isn’t perfect. Oh look, he’s failed like that.’ I just felt like a failure.’ 

While reflecting on the painful breakup, he acknowledged that parting ways was ultimately the ‘right thing to happen.’ 

It comes after Rylan opened up further about his relationship with Dan on his podcast with guest Stephen Fry. 

He said: ‘We got married in 2015. That same year, yeah. So it would have been my 10 year anniversary this year.’ 

Stephen then asked if Rylan felt any kind of responsibility to represent gay marriage, as one of the few LGBTQ+ celebrities.

He asked: ‘But did you feel also that – when it broke up and you were divorced – did you feel that there was in some sense you were letting down the idea of gay marriage, because we have a duty to show that our marriages are as robust and strong as any heterosexual?’

Rylan said: ‘There was part of me that just felt like a complete and utter failure. I felt like I’d failed personally, but I felt like I’d found publicly on behalf of – the gays! You know, I’m not, I’m not ‘head gay’, it’s not that.’

Stephen reassured: ‘No, you’re not, exactly. You’re not a poster child for gayness.’

It comes after Rylan opened up further about his relationship with Dan on his podcast with guest Stephen Fry (pictured in 2024)

Rylan previously revealed his own infidelity during his marriage with Dan caused the downfall of their relationship (pictured together during their relationship)

Rylan continued: ‘But you do feel like, yeah I’m going to get married, I want to get married, I can get married.

‘But when it doesn’t work out you don’t want people to go, ‘you see that’s why they f****** shouldn’t get married’.’

Stephen was quick to insist: ‘You can get married again if you want…’, causing Rylan to hint at his divorce struggles as he quipped: ‘Yeah with a prenup this time, I’m not going through that again.’

Rylan previously revealed his own infidelity during his marriage with Dan caused the downfall of their relationship.

After he revealed that he had been unfaithful, Dan eventually ended the relationship after the heart-wrenching confession.

Following the heartbreak and the deterioration of his marriage, Rylan had suicidal thoughts and his weight dropped to just nine stone.

He opened up about these challenging times in his second autobiography, TEN: The Decade That Changed My Future.

In the book, he penned a candid reflection and said: ‘I got in a relationship quite young and just went with it. Now I know I’m my own person. I’m not going to settle for something that’s not right. In a way it’s been a bit of a gift.’

‘I’m happy to have sex with someone and that’s that, that’s not a problem. But do I want more? Of course I want more. Am I going to enjoy myself on the way? Abso-f***ing-lutely.’

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