Rylan Clark, a familiar face on British television, found himself at the center of a heated national debate after his comments about immigration on ITV’s This Morning ignited a firestorm of controversy and prompted more than 570 complaints to Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting regulator. The incident, which unfolded during the live broadcast on August 27, 2025, has since become a flashpoint for broader discussions about the country’s immigration policies, the treatment of asylum seekers, and the boundaries of on-air commentary.
Clark, standing in for regular hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, made his remarks during a segment that quickly veered into contentious territory. He began by acknowledging the positive impact of immigration, noting that doctors and nurses from other countries had played a crucial role in saving his mother Linda’s life earlier in the year. “They’re living a great life, they’re paying into this tax system, they’re helping this country thrive,” Clark said, according to The Independent and The Mirror. Yet, he pivoted sharply, expressing his frustration at what he described as an overly generous welcome extended to some refugees and asylum seekers.
“Here’s the iPad. Here’s the NHS in reception of your hotel. Here’s three meals a day. Here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome,” Clark said on air, painting a picture of luxury accommodations and benefits provided to those arriving in the UK by boat. He contrasted this with the experience of British citizens, suggesting that someone born in the UK could face significant barriers re-entering the country without a passport, while migrants arriving from Calais would be “taken to a four-star hotel.”
The reaction was swift and polarized. Ofcom confirmed to The Independent that it had received 576 complaints about the episode, with critics accusing Clark of perpetuating myths and inaccuracies about the asylum system. The controversy quickly spilled onto social media and other television programs, where the debate over Clark’s comments—and the wider issue of immigration—raged on.
On Good Morning Britain just days later, host Susanna Reid defended Clark against accusations from panellist Kevin Maguire, who charged that Clark was “regurgitating terrible myths” about migrants. Reid countered, “Hang on. He pointed out that this country is built on immigration and he was grateful to all of the migrants who have come to the NHS for helping support his mum. He was actually concerned, though, that we’ve got a sort of welcome to the UK, and we don’t know who all of these people are.” She went on to emphasize, “It is the duty of the government, as the government itself would acknowledge, that we control borders and we do not just welcome everybody if we don’t know who they are.”
Maguire, however, was unmoved. He insisted, “He also regurgitated a load of myths and lies. Let’s not ignore that. Myths and lies have gone mainstream, and we’ve got to challenge that, we’ve got to push back on that.”
The specifics of Clark’s claims were quickly subjected to fact-checking. The Mirror reported that while the Home Office does not provide iPads or mobile phones to new arrivals—these are sometimes offered by charities or churches—migrants and asylum seekers are entitled to free NHS care while their claims are processed. Some four-star hotels, such as the Britannia International in Canary Wharf, have been used to house asylum seekers, but the Home Office has clarified that once hotels are repurposed for this use, commercial ratings no longer apply and only basic needs are met. Asylum seekers receive a modest weekly allowance, with meals provided and little opportunity to earn money, as they are legally barred from working.
Clark’s remarks also touched on the country’s homelessness crisis, drawing a comparison between the treatment of migrants and the plight of British citizens who are homeless or struggling. “There are people that have lived here all their lives that are struggling, or homeless. Let’s not even discuss our homeless. There are people living on the streets, veterans, all of this,” he said, as cited by The Mirror and The Daily Mail. He concluded that “something major needs to be done about this,” a sentiment that resonated with some viewers but infuriated others.
The backlash prompted Clark to issue a clarification on social media. On Instagram, he wrote, “Stop with this putting everyone in a box and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter. You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. This list continues.” This attempt to strike a more nuanced tone did little to quell the controversy, as debate continued to swirl about the accuracy and implications of his original statements.
The timing of Clark’s comments coincided with a period of heightened political tension over immigration policy. Labour, responding to what it described as rising public anger, unveiled an asylum “crackdown” that would temporarily bar refugees from bringing family members to the UK. Meanwhile, the government’s much-vaunted “one in, one out” migrant return deal with France, announced in July and ratified in August, had yet to result in any returns as of early September, despite detentions beginning on August 6. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs, “In August I signed the new treaty with France allowing us for the first time to directly return those who arrive on small boats. The first detentions took place the next day... And we expect the first returns to begin later this month.”
Conservative critics, however, dismissed Labour’s measures as insufficient, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accusing the party of opening the doors to illegal immigration and failing to regain control of the borders. “Under Labour, a small boat to the UK is a one-way ticket to one of Keir Starmer’s cushy hotels – paid for by hard-pressed taxpayers,” Philp said, according to The Daily Mail.
Protests outside hotels housing migrants have become a common sight, reflecting the deep divisions in British society over immigration. Demonstrators, waving English flags and Union Jacks, have gathered outside sites like the Crowne Plaza in West Drayton and the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, as documented by The Daily Mail’s reporting.
For Clark, the fallout was both professional and personal. On September 5, he confirmed that it was his last day hosting This Morning—at least for now—amid the ongoing backlash. “Last day today!” he announced on air, a moment that co-host Josie Gibson acknowledged with, “What a week!”
The episode has left many wondering about the limits of free speech on television, the responsibilities of broadcasters, and the persistent challenges of discussing immigration in a way that is both accurate and compassionate. As the dust settles, the debate sparked by Clark’s comments continues to echo, a reminder of just how charged—and consequential—conversations about immigration remain in the UK.
