Rylan Clark has revealed that he was at risk of being kidnapped in South America as he filmed raunchy new show Dating Naked UK.
The TV presenter, 35, who previously hosted sex-positive relationship advice show Sex Rated, travelled across Colombia to shoot his latest Paramount+ series, according to The Sun On Sunday.
Similar Channel 4’s Naked Attraction, Rylan’s new ten-episode show will see eager singletons seek a romantic connection with their bare bottoms on full display.
But, on Dating Naked UK, the saucy action takes place in a tropical paradise somewhere in Colombia.
He said: ‘I was out there for a month, and they are quite liberal, but the one thing I had to worry about was being a person of note from Europe — so a genuine concern was pirates.
Rylan Clark has revealed that he was at risk of being kidnapped in South America as he filmed his new kinky show, Dating Naked UK
The TV presenter, 35, who hosted sex-positive relationship advice show Sex Rated, travelled across Colombia to shoot his latest Paramount+ series, according to the Sun
‘That sounds really crazy, but actual pirates were the biggest concern because we were on an island filming the show.
‘Moving around at night when we were filming could have ended up with pirate boats coming to get me.
But Rylan did not seem too concerned as he said he was under the impression that the pirates do not hurt people and they only do it for the money.
The new show is based on the original VH1 US series, following in the footsteps of the German revival of the format for Paramount+.
Ahead of filming, Rylan said that the show would ‘blow [viewers’] minds’.
‘Not only does it feature dating and drama, on top of that everyone will be totally starkers! You will not want to miss this,’ he teased.
Among his many presenting commitments, Rylan is also hosting Hot Mess Summer for Prime Video.
And while Rylan maybe hosting his own dating show, the star has not been very active himself in the dating world since he split with his husband Dan Neal two years ago.
Rylan suffered a mental health breakdown following his marital split in 2021 after being together for five years.
During Rylan’s latest BBC TV series, Grand Tour with Rob Rinder, the pair were set up on fun blind dates which the former X Factor said is a rare thing for him to go on.
He explained how he is ‘unlucky in love’ and has only been on ‘two dates’ following his marriage split but neither of them were the one for him.
Rylan said: ‘Hopefully my luck with men is about to change. I always thought when you were younger ‘imagine if you were known, you would be able to get anyone you want’. It’s the complete opposite. I’ve had two dates in the last two years.
Similar Channel 4’s Naked Attraction (pictured: show host Anna Richardson), Rylan’s new ten-episode show will see eager singletons seek a romantic connection with the bare bottoms on full display
But, on Rylan’s Dating Naked UK, the saucy action takes place in a tropical paradise somewhere in Colombia
And while Rylan maybe hosting his own dating show, the star has not been very active himself in the dating world since he split with his husband Dan Neal (right) two years ago
‘One of them was really, really great and was going well. And then my job was just too much for his life. And then the other one was so interested in my job, he decided to call the press. So they’re the two opposite ends of the spectrum. I need somebody in the middle that can deal with it, but don’t want it.’
Rylan said his divorce was the ‘worst experience of his life’ as he went on a ‘downward spiral’ and he tried to ‘end’ his own life.
The Radio 2 presenter continued: ‘I just went on a downward spiral. I tried to end it. I tried to finish myself off. I didn’t eat, I went down to nine stone. I’m six foot four. Rob, I looked horrendous.’
Discussing divorce, Rylan added that is has taught him that ‘nothing is forever unless it is right’.
During the BBC series, Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour the pair explore Venice, Rome and Florence.
Rylan and Dan split in 2021 following six years of marriage and the star was forced to take time out from work to look after his mental health.
In his memoir, Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future, Rylan reveals that he cheated on Dan ‘years ago’ but only told him in 2021, which caused the former police officer to walk out.
During Rylan’s latest BBC TV series, Grand Tour with Rob Rinder, the pair were set up on fun bling dates which the former X Factor said is a rare thing for him to go on
He explained how he is ‘unlucky in love’ and has only been on ‘two dates’ following his marriage split but neither of them were the one for him
Rylan said: ‘I’ve had two dates in the last two years. One of them was really great and was going well, then my job was just too much for his life’
He wrote: ‘I woke up one morning and decided to tell my now ex that I had cheated on him, years ago. I’m not sure why it was that time, or that day I had to do it. But I did.’
On the reaction, Rylan continued: ‘He left. Told me it was over and that was that. You’re not surprised? I get that. But I couldn’t believe it.’
As to why he cheated, Rylan said: ‘I have no excuses for what I did way back then, but I had my reasons.
‘I think for many years I had felt a bit like an imposter. That nothing I was doing was right or not quite good enough. There were times when people told me this, and so confirmed my own self-doubts.
‘And you know, when it’s those closest to you giving you this feedback, of course you take it to heart. Similarly, someone loving me this way was all I had ever wanted and now I’d found it.
‘The reality is that over the course of my relationship I had started to feel wrong: I felt I was wrong for being successful, wrong for being me.’
While the pair did attempt to give their relationship another go, Dan ultimately left again after just two weeks.
After his divorce in 2021, Rylan took a four month break from the spotlight and cancelled all his work commitments, including hosting Eurovision.
Rylan later confirmed the separation in a statement which said: ‘Following reports about Dan and I spending time apart, I feel I have to speak out – as the way it is being reported is unfair.
Rylan and Dan split in 2021 following six years of marriage and the star was forced to take time out from work to look after his mental health
‘I have made a number of mistakes which I deeply regret and have inevitably led to the breakdown of our marriage.’
Speaking out, the TV presenter explained how he tried to take his own life twice after reaching a point where he was unable to ‘see, hear, eat, breathe or sleep’.
Discussing his struggle on Matt Willis’ On The Mend podcast, Rylan said he ‘lost himself’ after the divorce.
Rylan said: ‘I can’t remember what made me disappear basically from the person I knew.
‘But the next thing I knew I could not see, hear, eat, breathe, sleep – I couldn’t do anything.
‘And yeah, there was no signs of me having a break down, there was no signs of – like if you’re having a heart attack, you’ll get the pains in your arm, you’ll get this… you know something’s about to happen even if it’s seconds before.
‘I didn’t have the seconds, I just had the impact basically. The baseball bat round the face I call it. And yeah, I got very ill.’
Despite the heartache he felt at the time, Rylan no longer feels that he dropped a bombshell and ruined his ‘supposedly’ perfect life.
Adding that in the end, he believes he ultimately saved himself, although he didn’t quite realise it back then.
He said: ‘I think that the break down of my marriage has made me the person I am now and I am really, really happy with the person I am now, I can sleep very well at night.
‘Because of that trauma it has genuinely made me so much stronger. I think, ‘I’m alright, you’ve got your health, you’ve got a little bit of money in the bank, you’re cool.’
In a cryptic admission about his divorce, Rylan added: ‘And next time, I’d get a prenup. Silly pr***.’
Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour starts on Sunday 12 May at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
