Rylan Clark-Neal has defended himself after revealing that he has received criticism from Celebrity Big Brother fans over his presenting during the latest series.

The most recent series was dominated by the contrasting views between Shane Jenek/Courtney Act and Ann Widdecombe, and the Bit on the Side host has drawn negative comments over his reluctance to strongly condemn Ann.

Speaking on Loose Women, Rylan said he was his job to be impartial and to judge everybody on their time in the house.

Channel 5

"I love the show and I love being there, but I've never been happier the series is over," he said. "Every night on Twitter, all I got were all these people who were either Team Courtney or Team Ann Widdecombe.

"I've been called a disgrace to the gay community for not laying into Ann Widdecombe. But look. My thing is, if Ann Widdecombe had said or done anything homophobic, racist, or whatever in the house, she would have been pulled straight away from the house.

"I don't agree with Ann Widdecombe's views, and I'd like to think in this day and age not a lot of people do agree with her views.

"She's more than alright to have them. She didn't enforce those views on anyone while she was in the house. So I treated her like a housemate. That's my job, and I do my job well."

Channel 5

Rylan added that he would love to see Big Brother continue on TV screens for years to come, calling it the "original social experiment".

"I said to Courtney on Friday night after the finale, as a 12, 13, 14-year-old boy myself, if I was watching Big Brother and saw conversations you and Ann Widdecombe were having, and India [Willoughby] as well, I would have been so much more comfortable with myself at that age," he said.

"That's why Big Brother is the original social experiment, and long may it stay on our telly."

Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV.

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