Lucy Spraggan recalls how Rylan Clark helped her after hotel porter assaulted her during X Factor

Singer Lucy Spraggan has spoken about how fellow X Factor contestant Rylan Clark helped her after she was sexually assaulted by a hotel porter while competing on the ITV talent show in 2012.

Speaking on the first We Need To Talk Full Circle roundtable episode, Spraggan recalled how Clark checked on her after a night out and helped preserve evidence that ultimately enabled police to identify the man who assaulted her.

Spraggan described Clark as “one of the most spirited, wonderful human beings on this planet”, crediting him with taking control of a frightening situation when she was unable to do so herself.

“It was Rylan’s birthday party. We did what we always did. We went out and we got wasted,” she said.

Spraggan explained that a runner took her back to her hotel room after she became heavily intoxicated. When Clark returned from the party in the early hours of the morning, something prompted him to check on her.

“He pushed on my door, and the latch had been put over on my door, and he came in and he checked if I was breathing. Because I was unconscious,” she recalled.

Clark shut the door fully before the hotel porter later returned with a keycard to let himself into her room, according to Spraggan.

The following morning, Spraggan said she was rushed away from the hotel to begin a busy morning of production while police were contacted.

“I’m pushed into this taxi. I’m like, ‘Rylan, this thing — this thing’s happened,’ and that guy just took control of the entire moment,” she said.

Spraggan said Clark returned to her room and stood outside it, refusing to let cleaners or other staff enter.

“Wouldn’t let a cleaner in. Wouldn’t let a person in, said, ‘Don’t touch that room,’” she recalled.

The singer explained that the porter was identified because he had to use his keycard to enter her room. She believes Clark’s actions were crucial to ensuring police could establish who had entered.

“Had Rylan not have shut the door, he would have not had to use his keycard,” she said. “He was an employee and if it wasn’t for Rylan they wouldn’t have found him.”

The porter was subsequently arrested and convicted of the assault, receiving a 13-year prison sentence, according to reporting by Daily Mail.

Lucy Spraggan was publicly blamed for leaving The X Factor

Spraggan also reflected on the way her departure from The X Factor was presented to viewers.

She competed on the 2012 series, performing during the first three live shows before leaving the competition. At the time, the public was told she was unwell.

Spraggan said that explanation contributed to people blaming her for supposedly wasting her opportunity.

“They told the public I was unwell and it meant that people came up to me in the street and said, ‘Oh, pissed your opportunity up the wall, didn’t you? Bad hangover, that’s why you didn’t do it,’” she said. “And the press went along with that.”

The singer has previously spoken publicly about the assault and the impact it had on her life. In the roundtable discussion, she reflected more broadly on her experience of the programme, describing her relationship with The X Factor as “abusive” and saying she lost herself for around a decade after gaining an opportunity that helped launch her career.

Spraggan also recalled being asked about her grandmother’s death during the competition and seeing the loss included in her televised introduction shortly before a performance.

The X Factor has faced criticism in recent years over allegations of bullying and failures in contestant welfare. A spokesperson for the programme has previously said that contributor welfare is taken extremely seriously and outlined measures including dedicated welfare staff, medical support and aftercare.

Rylan Clark’s support made a lasting difference

Spraggan’s account highlights the importance of Clark’s crucial response at a moment when she was vulnerable and needed someone to act on her behalf.

Rylan Clark, an out gay man, has since become a prominent television and radio presenter and an outspoken figure in British entertainment. Spraggan, who is a lesbian and has spoken about her gender-fluid identity, has continued her music career since leaving the programme. She has released multiple albums and built a loyal audience through touring and independent work.

Reflecting on the assault, she made clear how much Clark’s actions mattered in helping police identify the perpetrator.

If you’ve been affected by this story, support is available. For mental health support, contact Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, day or night. For confidential support after rape or sexual assault, contact the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk

Readers in the US can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. For confidential support after sexual assault, contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673, text HOPE to 64673, or visit rainn.org/hotline