Rylan Clark broke down in tears as he described helping his girlfriend Lucy Spraggan after she was raped while competing on The X Factor in 2012.
The pair were considered the “wild” stars of the ITV show and were said to have been banished to a hotel away from the other contestants as punishment after they “broke out” of the luxury London hotel where they were staying.
Last year, 32-year-old Lucy revealed she had quit the show when she was raped by a porter in her hotel room after fellow contestant Rylan's 25th birthday party, where staff and singers were given “free alcohol” – which ended up happening caused Lucy to fall unconscious.
After remaining silent on the matter for more than a decade, Rylan, 35, broke down in tears as he described the fallout in a chat with The Guardian, admitting: “I'm getting emotional.” It's been a really, really tough one Time. It was terrible and I still haven’t spoken about it because it’s not my story to tell, even though I was a part of it.”
As the first person to tell Lucy about the assaults, Rylan played a crucial role in convicting Lucy's rapist by securing the crime scene, barring the maids from entering, and providing evidence to the police.
Rylan Clark broke down in tears as he described helping his girlfriend Lucy Spraggan after she was raped while competing on The X Factor in 2012 (pictured 2022).
The pair were considered the “wild” stars of the ITV show and were said to have been banished to a hotel away from the other contestants as punishment (Rylan and Lucy pictured in 2012).
Reflecting on the incident, he said: “As a 24-year-old – it was the night of my birthday – I woke up on the biggest show in the country and my friend said, 'I was raped last night' while being asked by the press being followed wherever you go… I don't know how I did it.
“I do not know what happened. “Lucy calls me Jessica Fletcher because I looked like Angela Lansbury.”
Following the attacks, Lucy was prescribed PEP as a precaution, a drug which, if taken within the first 72 hours of sex, can stop the spread of HIV – but this left her feeling too ill to continue singing on the show.
Rylan revealed that the production team had also offered him a week off from the program, but felt that Lucy would come under fire if the two “savages” were dropped from the series in the same week.
Reflecting on the public hostility towards him when he took part in the show, Rylan mused: “A lot of people judged me when I was on The X Factor.” P***k. Idiot.
“And I suppose from a selfish perspective, all these years later, when someone reads this, I’m like, ‘F**k you, you bastard. You had no fucking idea. You. Had. No. F.” **King. Idea.”
“I had to go on stage in front of 12 million people and sing the fucking Madonna while dressed as a drag queen while I was busy doing that. 'I hope you're ashamed of yourself, you idiots.'
Lucy previously told how she felt “let down” by ITV as she explained why she was forced to abruptly leave the show following the attacks.
She was scouted for the competition at the age of 20, having previously worked as a performer.
The brutal attack resulted in her being unable to continue the show due to the severe side effects of PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) medication.
Rylan played a crucial role in convicting Lucy's rapist, securing the crime scene by barring the maids from entering and providing evidence to the police
In a podcast released last year, Rylan showed his support for his friend, telling Lucy: “I feel like you've been robbed of a huge opportunity and I think about that a lot with you because you're such a talent and I will never do that.” forget this year.
“I remember thinking that she was special, that girl, and for that to be taken away from you without it having anything to do with you in any way, I was disappointed for you.”
He added: “From a non-selfish standpoint, I'm afraid to think about what would happen if you were alone and had to deal with it on your own.”
“We were the only ones taking part in it and yes, it was difficult, it was difficult to deal with all of that.”
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But just four weeks after the live shows began, she was forced to withdraw following the attack.
She previously told the Guardian how a member of the production team accompanied the singer from the Mayfair Mahiki nightclub back to the hotel, where a hotel porter offered to escort Lucy safely back to her room.
But when the employee left her room, the doorman is said to have manually prevented the room from locking automatically.
She and Rylan had reportedly been sent to the hotel on Edgware Road, far from the Corinthia where the show usually hosted its cast, with 24-hour security.
Lucy described how she felt this was part of their “storyline” for the show, where they were known for partying and staying out late.
Some time later, Rylan arrived back at the hotel and checked in with his fellow candidate. It was important that he made sure her door was locked before letting her sleep.
That meant the doorman then had to use a traceable key card to get into the room and commit the rape, she explained.
The next day, Lucy woke up and immediately knew something was wrong.
She said: “The next day I woke up with this feeling of pure fear.”
“I don't think I've ever felt this level of confusion since then.” I knew I had been raped, but I couldn't process it. So I got dressed and turned on autopilot.'
After telling Rylan, who she describes as a passionate advocate for her, production staff were informed and the police were called.
Lucy said she wanted to reveal why she suddenly quit The X Factor, but claims various people encouraged her not to.
She admitted she was frustrated by the lack of follow-up care she received after she left the competition. Although she reportedly received medical and financial support immediately afterwards, she said she received no support after the trial.
Rylan mused: “A lot of people judged me on The X Factor. And I suppose from a selfish perspective, after all these years, when someone reads this, I think, “You.” No. Damned. Idea.”'
The X Factor was Lucy's big break, but just four weeks into the live shows she was forced to withdraw following the assault
Lucy wrote in her memoirs: “No one ever contacted me to ask if I was OK.” When the trial ended and he was convicted, no one called or emailed him. No one offered me rehabilitation or ongoing mental health treatment. I was on my own.'
The man behind the attack pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to ten years in prison, so the singer did not have to relive the trauma of the rape on the witness stand.
But she claims she was “lucky” her rapist was brought to justice – because her friend looked out for her: “I'm lucky because Rylan closed that door.”
An ITV spokesman said: “We have deepest sympathy for Lucy and all she has endured as a result of this terrible ordeal. “We praise her resilience and courage.
“The X Factor was produced by Thames and Syco, who had primary responsibility for the duty of care owed to all participants in the program.”
“ITV has a duty as a commissioning broadcaster to have appropriate and robust oversight procedures in place to ensure that independent producers use the right processes to protect the mental health and wellbeing of participants.”
“We continue to develop our own due diligence processes for the programs we produce to ensure appropriate measures are in place to support contributors before, during and after filming.” “In such a distressing case, the welfare and support of the victim is always a priority highest priority.”
A spokesman for the production company behind the show, Fremantle, added: “The serious sexual assault suffered by Lucy Spraggan in October 2012 was a truly horrific offense for which the perpetrator, who was not associated with the show, was rightly prosecuted was persecuted and imprisoned.” .
“Everyone should feel safe when sleeping in a hotel room – and it is abhorrent to believe that a hotel concierge has betrayed that trust in such a despicable way.”
“To our knowledge, the attack was an unprecedented event in the British television industry.”
“Although we have believed all along that we did our best to support Lucy after the ordeal, we must acknowledge this as Lucy feels we could have done more. “For everything Lucy has suffered , we are extremely sorry.
“Since then, we have done our best to learn lessons from these events and improve our aftercare processes.”
“While we have worked hard to protect Lucy's lifelong right to anonymity, we applaud her strength and courage now that she has chosen to waive that right.”
For information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse, contact Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222.
Lucy was frustrated by the lack of follow-up care she received following her exit from the competition because, although she reportedly received medical and financial support immediately afterwards, she said she received no support after the trial (pictured 2023).