Rylan foxtrots off after the BBC's Strictly snub... and takes hit podcast to same broadcaster as Emily Maitlis
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He has been one of the BBC's golden boys for more than a decade and had hoped to front Strictly Come Dancing.
But after being overlooked for the coveted presenting role, Rylan Clark is defecting to rival broadcaster Global, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The 38-year-old is to follow in the footsteps of former BBC stars including Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Andrew Marr by switching to the commercial giant.
And in a move that will raise eyebrows at Broadcasting House, he is taking his podcast with him. How To Be In Love is moving from BBC Sounds to Global, where it will be launched as How To Be In Love With Rylan Clark.
According to an email from a senior Global producer seen by The Mail on Sunday, the show was only recently given the green light and will be unveiled in February, with recording due to begin in the coming weeks.
The move is a major coup for Global and a blow for the BBC, where Clark has worked across TV and radio since finding fame on ITV's The X Factor in 2012.
He has since become one of the corporation's most recognisable presenters, hosting Eurovision, The One Show, Ready Steady Cook and various shows on BBC Radio 2, as well as the Strictly spin-off It Takes Two.
But despite his close ties to the ballroom show, Rylan was overlooked when Emma Willis, 50, was chosen as one of its new presenters, alongside comedian Josh Widdicombe, 43, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe, 39.
BBC goldenboy Rylan Clark is defecting to rival broadcaster Global after being overlooked to front Strictly Come Dancing (Pictured here with dance partner Amy Dowden for a Children in Need Strictly special)
The move is a major blow for the BBC, where Rylan hosted Eurovision, The One Show, Ready Steady Cook and various shows on BBC Radio 2
On Friday night, when he took part in a Strictly special for Children In Need, thousands of viewers shared on social media their fury at him not being given the role – and begged BBC bosses to hire him for next year's series.
One source told The Mail on Sunday: 'Rylan feels completely done over by the BBC. He's given them years of loyalty and people genuinely thought he should have got the Strictly job.
'He was really disappointed to be overlooked. He knows Strictly inside out and would have been a natural fit.
'There is a sense that the BBC has taken him for granted, so he's not going to sit around waiting for them forever.
'Global clearly see his value and want to invest in him.'
The BBC version of How To Be In Love saw Clark explore romance, heartbreak and the secrets of lasting relationships with famous guests including Louis Theroux and the author and podcast host Mel Robbins.
Now Global is understood to be seeking a new line-up of high-profile guests for the podcast, with bosses said to be keen to make the most of Clark's 'warmth, wit and enormous following'.
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