As flight cancellations wreak havoc across Europe, Rylan Clark has found himself stranded.
The presenter, 37, was due to host his BBC Radio Two Saturday show this afternoon, a slot he has occupied since 2019, having built up a loyal listenership.
However, nature had other plans, leaving the former X Factor star stuck abroad and unable to get home, meaning a replacement had to be pulled in at the last minute.
Speaking to pal Emma Willis on the phone from France, the broadcaster, who began dating fairground worker Kennedy Bates last summer, said: ‘I decided to go away with my partner and a couple of my friends to Nice for a few days and just, you know, enjoy the sun!
‘I didn’t have work this week; I managed to clear my diary, and I was like, “That’s amazing.”
‘And then I was flying back very early this morning. Went to the airport, and it was like, “No!” And I was like, “Sorry?”‘
Rylan added that, at one point, he almost went to extreme measures to make it back for his radio show, having considered boarding an eight-hour train, despite how this ‘still would have made [him] late for work’.
In the end, he decided it was best to stay put – and we can’t say we blame him.
‘I thought, “Do you know what? You’ve done well for yourself. Just going to stay another day, what can I do?”,’ he quipped, quoting the iconic East 17 Christmas tune.
He went on to confess that he even tried to get himself on a different flight by playing the ‘Do you know who I am?’ card – something he insisted he ‘never’ does.
‘I think there will be photographic evidence of me at the front of that queue, going, “Excuse me, lady!”‘
Rylan then confirmed that Mark Goodier would be ‘stepping in’ for him this weekend.
The 65-year-old has decades of radio experience and has been covering breakfast, mid-morning, and afternoon slots on Radio 2 for the past year. He’s also on rotation covering the Drivetime show until Sara Cox’s replacement is confirmed; she’ll be moving over to the Radio 2 Breakfast Show from July 6, following Scott Mills’ firing.
‘A massive thank you to Mark,’ praised Rylan. ‘But, I thought, I can either really stress myself out about this and sweat my Victoria Beckham foundation off my forehead, or I’m just gonna have to swallow it and deal with it and go, “What a shame”,’ he concluded, joking that there are ‘worse places to be’.
‘I’ve just had a nice rosé with some ice cubes in it. Gonna go and sit by the pool, and wish everyone well.’
After the clip of his phone-in was shared on social media, the This Morning host added a playful comment, writing: ‘So unprofessional’.
He later took to his Instagram Story with a selfie certain to make anyone envious, showcasing his tan as he sunbathed, wine glass in hand.
‘Soz about todays show. I blame everyone but myself. Genuinely had it all sussed out and then flights all cancelled’, he wrote.
‘Thanks Mark for stepping in you legend. Gonna have a rosé and think of you all [sic]’.
Rylan’s adoring listeners also understood his decision, telling him to enjoy the ‘bonus’ day in the French city.
‘I think you will be forgiven Rylan not your fault.enjoy your extra day!!😂’, commented @lanzamel.
‘Ah we missed you today! ❤️’, added @angienortham.
Others pointed out that Rylan fans will sadly have to miss him a little while longer, as next Saturday, he’s also absent from the airwaves. Instead, the BBC Radio website’s schedule confirms Joel Dommett will sit in on the three-hour slot following new Strictly host Emma’s lunchtime show.
Of course, Rylan isn’t the only person to find themselves caught up in a travel nightmare this week.
Thanks to the heatwave, which has broken records for the hottest June day at 37.3°C, rail infrastructure has struggled to cope, forcing operators to run a reduced schedule.
Furthermore, a total of 484 inbound and outbound flights were delayed across Gatwick and Heathrow airports by the evening, according to the FlightAware tracker. Heathrow had 42% of its flights delayed and Gatwick 50%, it said.
Thankfully, the end is in sight as the amber warning for extreme heat ceases from Sunday morning.
However, ‘spikes’ of ‘above average’ temperatures are still expected throughout July and August.