Rylan Clark stranded abroad as star issues BBC apology
Rylan Clark apologised to BBC Radio 2 listeners on 27 June 2026 after flight cancellations left him stranded in Nice, France, and unable to host his Saturday show. The 37-year-old called into Emma Willis's programme, thanked Mark Goodier for stepping in, and told fans he would stay an extra day rather than rush home.
The This Morning and former X Factor star had flown to the French Riviera with his boyfriend Kennedy Bates and friends after clearing his diary for the week. Widespread European flight disruption tied to heatwave weather turned a short break into a last-minute scheduling crisis for one of Radio 2's most familiar weekend voices.
Key Takeaways
- Rylan Clark missed Rylan On Saturday on 27 June after his return flight from Nice was cancelled.
- He phoned Emma Willis live on air and posted an Instagram apology blaming flight chaos, not his planning.
- Mark Goodier hosted the 3pm-6pm slot; Joel Dommett is scheduled to cover the following Saturday.
- Rylan considered an eight-hour train and even tried using his celebrity status to secure another flight.
- Listeners largely backed his decision to enjoy a bonus day on the Côte d'Azur.
Why was Rylan Clark stranded abroad?
According to Metro and The Independent, Rylan Clark had planned a few days in Nice with Kennedy Bates and friends. He cleared his work diary and intended to fly back very early on Saturday morning in time for his show.
At the airport, however, he was told his flight was cancelled as cancellations swept Europe. Rylan told Emma Willis: "I was flying back very early this morning. Went to the airport, and it was like, 'No!' And I was like, 'Sorry?'"
Metro reported that heatwave-related disruption was hitting travellers across the continent, leaving the presenter stuck abroad with no quick route back to the UK.
How did Rylan Clark apologise to BBC listeners?
Rylan Clark phoned into Emma Willis's Radio 2 show from France to explain his absence and apologise directly to listeners. He said he had considered boarding an eight-hour train, which would still have made him late, before deciding to stay another day.
He also admitted trying the "Do you know who I am?" approach to get on a different flight, something he said he never normally does. Quoting East 17, he joked: "You've done well for yourself. Just going to stay another day, what can I do?"
On Instagram, he wrote: "Soz about today's show. I blame everyone but myself. Genuinely had it all sussed out and then flights all cancelled. Thanks Mark for stepping in you legend. Gonna have a rosé and think of you all." When BBC Radio 2 posted that he was "stranded somewhere Nice", he replied: "So unprofessional."
Who replaced Rylan Clark on BBC Radio 2?
Mark Goodier stepped in at the last minute to host the three-hour Rylan On Saturday slot from 3pm to 6pm. Metro noted that Goodier, 65, has decades of radio experience and has been covering various Radio 2 shifts over the past year.
Rylan publicly thanked him on air and on social media. The arrangement kept the show on air for a loyal audience Rylan has built since taking the Saturday afternoon slot in 2019.
When will Rylan Clark return to the airwaves?
Metro reported that Rylan fans face another Saturday without him soon. The BBC Radio 2 schedule lists Joel Dommett as the cover host for the following week's Rylan On Saturday slot, after Emma Willis's lunchtime programme.
Social media followers largely forgave the absence, with many telling Rylan to enjoy the extra day. For more stories on high-profile disappearances and public reckonings, browse our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.