UPDATE: |Rylan Clark’s BBC replacement says ‘nobody knows’ amid concerns over host’s absence News

Rylan Clark’s BBC Radio 2 replacement Owain Wyn Evans was flooded with messages from listeners, as he questioned the presenter’s whereabouts live on air

BBC Radio 2 presenter Owain Wyn Evans asked fans if they had seen Rylan Clark, as he stepped in for the presenter on his show on Saturday.

Kicking things off in the studio, he began: “Greetings and salutations! No, Rylan has not suddenly adopted a West Wales accent after a funny [turn], it’s me, Owain, with you for the next couple of hours, in the hot seat for the main man today.”

The 41-year-old went on to say he had a “lovely show” lined up for listeners today, adding: “We’ll be asking, where is Rylan? He’s put some leave in, he’s not here so I’m covering for him.

“But, nobody knows where he is, it’s a bit of a mystery actually.”

He added: “Producer Simon said he’s off having singing lessons… Simon, very shady that.”

Throughout the show, Owain continued to ask listeners if they had seen Rylan, 36, and was met with some humorous replies.

Sharing his own assumption at first, he said: “I think he might’ve gone for a cheeky little break away somewhere.”

Reading out texts from fans, one suggested that Rylan may be a part of the Grand National, while another joked they had seen him walking a pony in Chelmsford, Essex.

Later on, another said they saw the presenter in a pub “with Millwall fans”, and a fourth humorously claimed they saw him on a bus dressed as a chicken.

Laughing, Owain said: “Well, either Rylan is very busy or there are lots of Rylan lookalikes about because I’m asking where is he.”

It’s not the first time Rylan’s absence has sparked a reaction from fans.

In February, the presenter was replaced by Richie Anderson, who revealed he was absent with “the sniffles”.

At the time, the stand-in host jokingly insisted that Rylan was lying after listeners claimed they had seen him out and about.

Hitting back at the humorous claims, Rylan branded them “lies” and went on thank his fans for their well wishes.

Rylan on Saturday airs weekly on BBC Radio 2 from 3pm.