Rylan Clark-Neal reveals he left This Morning for his 'mental health' | London Evening Standard

'I just needed a break': Rylan Clark-Neal reveals he left This Morning for his 'mental health'The presenter left the show last year

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Taking a break: Rylan Clark-Neal has revealed the reason for his hiatusITV

Rylan Clark-Neal has spoken out to address his decision to quit This Morning, insisting that it was due to his "mental health".

Clark-Neal shocked fans when he announced he was leaving the magazine show indefinitely in December 2017, later saying that he needed a break from working on so many shows at one.

Now, the former X Factor star has set the record straight about his departure saying that it was for his “mental health” owing to a “demanding” 24/7 schedule.

In an interview with The Sun Online, he revealed: “I got a load of s*** when I had a break from This Morning after five years.

“Some news outlets have said I’m having a baby, ­getting divorced and terminally ill. I’m really missing being there but I just need time to myself. People think there’s an ulterior motive and there’s not.”

He continued: “I just needed a break for my head, for my body, for my peace of mind. I just needed a little break from working three, four, five jobs. That’s all. I don’t get holiday, I’m self-employed. That’s a really big risk for anyone in telly. People forget you’re not just on telly for that hour.

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“Today, for instance, I’m up at five. On a Big Brother eviction night I wouldn’t have got home until 1am. For my head, I just need to take a little break.”

Clark-Neal, who presents Big Brother spin-off show Bit On The Side, also backed the show to stay on air after recent rumours it would be axed.

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He told the publication: “I can’t imagine TV without Big Brother. When C4 got rid of it I rang the helpline in Heat magazine. I was that devastated.

“Not many reality shows can say they’ve been on air for 18 years. I’d love to see it make 20 years — of course I would,” he added.