Rylan Clark: I was the joke, but I knew I was the joke at the start of my career

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Rylan Clark: I Was The Joke, But I Knew I Was The Joke At The Start Of My Career
Rylan Clark said he was an industry ‘newbie no more’ and now enjoyed the fame he had long since desired. Photo: PA
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By Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

Rylan Clark says he “knew he was the joke” when he appeared on the X Factor in 2012, but has since learned to embrace and blur his on- and off-screen lives.

The British TV personality said he was an industry “newbie no more” and now enjoyed the fame he had long since desired.

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Speaking to the i newspaper, Clark discussed his childhood, struggles with mental health and various run-ins with negative press throughout his career.

X Factor 2016 Launch – London
The TV personality said he was an industry ‘newbie no more’ and now enjoyed the fame he had long since desired. Photo: PA

As well as being the current host of Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, Clark has won Celebrity Big Brother and presented various shows including This Morning, Eurovision and The One Show.

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But it was on Simon Cowell’s popular singing contest that he originally found the spotlight.

“I was the joke, but I knew I was the joke,” he told the i.

“I can sing. But I weren’t supposed to sing on The X Factor. There is a box for every single person on there, and I ticked the ‘gay stereotype joke’ box.”

“I could either stand there and sing and hope to get through, along with a million other auditionees, or I could play the game… and have an argument with Gary Barlow.”

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BBC Radio 1’s Teen Awards – London
Speaking to the i newspaper, Clark discussed his childhood, struggles with mental health and various run-ins with negative press throughout his career. Photo: Matt Crossick/PA

Clark recently published a book, titled Ten: The Decade That Changed My Future, in which he discusses having imposter syndrome throughout his career.

“I think I’ve always seen myself as the newbie,” he said.

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“But I’m not the newbie no more. So I shouldn’t have to be polite to that person that’s being rude to me.

“I’m nice to everyone in this industry – I always have been, I always will be. But actually, if you cross me, I will f**king ruin you.”

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