RETURN TO SCREEN: Rylan Clark Back on This Morning After Immigration Comment Controversy

The television host joined Emma Willis on ITV’s This Morning, marking his return after remarks about immigration last August generated 702 complaints to Ofcom.
Rylan Clark wearing a grey shirt and black t-shirt

Rylan faced viewer backlash due to his immigration statements, leading to a later Instagram post addressing the situation(Image: ITV)

Rylan Clark has resumed his role on ITV’s This Morning after a hiatus prompted by contentious comments he made the previous year.

The presenter featured beside Emma Willis on the daytime program today, substituting for the regular Friday presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

Although Rylan was previously a frequent guest host, he encountered considerable scrutiny last year after expressing opinions on immigration, which led him to publish a clarifying statement.

During a This Morning segment last August, while talking about mass deportation plans suggested by Nigel Farage – who promised to remove hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants within five years if elected – Rylan shared his thoughts on the immigration discussion.

He said: “[The UK] was founded on immigration. Legal immigration – many of the nurses and doctors who saved my mother’s life came here from abroad. They’re living well, contributing taxes, and helping the nation prosper.”

He added: “I think it’s completely mad that all these individuals are risking everything to cross the Channel.

“And when they arrive, it appears, and I believe this is why numerous Labour supporters also feel something is off, it seems like, ‘Welcome, come right in’. That’s the story we’re being told.”Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary typically co-host This Morning on Fridays(Image: ITV)

Rylan proceeded to assert that asylum seekers receive an iPad, stating: “Here’s an iPad. Here’s the NHS right in your hotel lobby. Here’s three daily meals. Here’s a hotel games room. Enjoy your stay and welcome.”

He went on: “There are individuals who’ve resided here their entire lives who are facing hardships. They’re without homes. Let’s not even talk about our homeless population. There are people on the streets, veterans, all of that.”

His statements caused an uproar, resulting in 702 Ofcom complaints, and Rylan was absent from This Morning for multiple weeks following the incident.

However, he has now reappeared in the recently updated studio alongside co-host Emma Willis, welcoming audiences on Friday with: “Hello and welcome to your Friday edition of This Morning.”

The pair shared a friendly hug, showing their happiness at reuniting on air. Emma observed: “This is lovely, isn’t it, being back together.”

“It’s our debut in the new studio,” Rylan noted, alluding to the ITV daytime updates introduced earlier this year.

He also mentioned the strange moments in the new environment, saying: “It’s really weird, you’re preparing and then suddenly there’s a Sunetra Sarker… you know? I walked into Kaye Adam’s dressing room, what am I doing?”

“He’s on the loose,” Emma teased, while Rylan spoke to viewers: “It’s wonderful to have you with us, we have plenty lined up,” before detailing the show’s schedule.

Audiences were delighted to see the two hosting together, with one viewer writing: “So incredibly happy to see Rylan back on the show this morning and a fantastic team with Emma.”

“Rylan and Emma are amazing,” another viewer concurred, while a different person stated: “Yay… great to see Rylan and Emma.”

“Rylan and Emma are the top presenters,” another fan applauded.

One individual added: “Rylan and Emma! Are the producers finally paying attention to what viewers want?”

Following the dispute over his comments last year, Rylan defended his position in an Instagram statement, proclaiming: “You can support immigration and oppose illegal methods.

“You can stand with trans people and have complete respect for women. You can be straight and still advocate for gay rights. The examples go on.

“End this habit of categorizing everyone and perhaps engage in dialogue instead of yelling on Twitter.”