Rylan Clark’s rise to fame over the past decade has been the stuff of legends but he’s not done dreaming yet.
The 35-year-old former X Factor finalist turned TV and radio presenter has a growing bucket list which he has been rapidly ticking off.
One thing which has been on the list for some time is representing the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Speaking to the Standard, Clark who is once again part of the UK’s presenting line-up for this year’s competition which is taking place in Sweden on May 7, admitted it was something he thought about “every day”.
“I always threaten team UK with ‘if you p*** me off, I’m going to represent the country’.”
He added: “It will happen one day.”
This weekend he is teaming up with Dame Kelly Homes as cheerleader for The Samaritans at the London Marathon, but almost had a heart attack when asked if he had ever run it himself.
“Are you mad?” he laughs. “I’ve done a lot. I’m an East London boy so marathon day to an East London person is quite important, so growing up the marathon was almost as important as Easter or Christmas – it was the day for East Londoners. I’ve never run it myself, I’ve got friends and family who have.
“If I was to run it and I would love to run it 100 per cent, I’d just have to really train for it and where I’ve not had the time this year, it has just not been on my list, but if I can help in another way then of course I’m gonna.”
Before fame came a-knockin’, Clark once went for a job as cabin crew. Although his career in the skies wasn’t to be, he recently got the chance to work for Virgin Atlantic for the day.
“It was honestly like a childhood dream,” he enthused. “It has always `been a bucket list thing...be cabin crew for the day. Teaming up with Virgin Atlantic was so fun because as a brand and as an airline, they are so fun and so inclusive. They taught me the ropes and we just had the best time.
“We were in the economy cabin and it was so interesting. I don’t do many long-haul flights. I’m mostly Europe and domestic but when I do these flights to America and stuff like that it’s so fun to see the workings behind it, the Virgin surprises if you like.
“Obviously there’s the food and drink that you would expect, but all of the kids packs, doing the activity packs with the kids, the kids trying on our jackets and having fun, the ice lollies, the afternoon tea. It was so fun and the best experience and genuinely I would love to do it all again.
“I did try and steal the outfit, but had to give it back,” he sighed.
He previously told the Standard that his ultimate interview would be Girls Aloud - and now he has completed that.
“It’s going to be a very special show with the girls coming soon to Radio 2. Obviously I know Nadine quite well so it’s nice to see her on a personal level, but it’s lovely to see all of the girls back together.”
They did however remind him of a certain missed opportunity in the past that cost him a few tears.
“The girls asked me to be their support on tour in 2013 after X Factor, but I went into Celebrity Big Brother and then the X Factor tour clashed with Girls Aloud tour dates so I couldn’t do it. It’s weird because when I was with the girls the other day, they were like, ‘you know that we asked you to be the support!’ I was like ‘I know! I cried myself to f*****g sleep!’
“Who knows, I might pop up at this one. Babe listen, when Girls Aloud ask something, you just do it!”
