Rylan Clark has addressed a wave of concern from fans after a misleading Facebook post falsely claimed that his mother, Linda, had fallen ill. The broadcaster said he received “loads of messages” from worried followers, prompting him to set the record straight during his BBC Radio 2 show, Rylan on Saturday.

Rylan reassured listeners that Linda is “absolutely fine,” joking that she had been “messing around with the bins since early this morning.” The confusion stemmed from a viral post shared by a fake news page, which mistakenly suggested that Linda was unwell.

Public concern was heightened by the fact that Linda has long battled severe Crohn’s disease and was previously diagnosed with skin cancer — conditions that have significantly limited her ability to appear on television. Rylan explained that although he wishes he could work with his mother more often, her health makes most projects too demanding. Their joint appearance on Gogglebox remains the most manageable format, as it simply requires them to sit at home together.

Despite her health challenges, Linda recently enjoyed a heart-warming moment in the spotlight after being invited to cut the ribbon for the opening of a local Christmas grotto — an event that left Rylan “bursting with pride.” The post gained enthusiastic reactions from celebrities including Michelle Visage, Amy Childs and Sonny Jay.

Reflecting on his close relationship with his mother, Rylan also shared a personal insight from his recent trip to India with Rob Rinder: he realizes he fears losing his mum far more than losing himself, a revelation that has strengthened his appreciation for the time they spend together.