Ryan-Mark ParsonsFRSA (born 4 April 2000) is a British media personality, columnist, commentator, and political advisor. Parsons is best known for being the youngest-ever candidate on the BBC One reality series The Apprentice (2019) and starring in E4'sCelebs Go Dating.[1][2][3][4]
Parsons joined The Apprentice, aged 19, as the youngest-ever candidate since the show began in 2005.[14] Parsons' performance was praised by Sean O'Grady, Associate Editor of The Independent, stating the "cherubic Ryan-Mark Parsons is the real winner of this series."[15] Similarly in The Telegraph, Anita Singh wrote: "Technically, there are a dozen contestants in the show. Really, there are only three: Thomas Skinner and Lottie Lion, and Ryan-Mark."[16]
During Week Six, Parsons tested one of the rollercoasters at Thorpe Park, which caused thousands of viewers to react online. According to Hello!, 13,000 X (Twitter) mentions and 10,000 hashtags were used, which made this scene one of the most talked about TV moments of 2019.[17][18]
In 2020, Parsons featured in The Apprentice Best Bits, which was a six-part compilation series across fifteen series of the show. It was created to replace the 2020 series which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[20]
Parsons was fired 'with regret' in Week Eight of The Apprentice and the episode overall gained 6.6 million viewers.[21] In his exit interviews, Parsons caused controversy after calling fellow candidates "desperate."[22][23]
Various pictures surfaced of Parsons in December 2019, including at McDonald's in one of their London restaurants eating with a knife and fork. The story was subsequently reported by a number of online newspapers and became viral. US-based celebrity podcast, Who? Weekly, addressed the story in the episode: 'British reality star Ryan-Mark Parsons (he likes McDonald's)'.[24][25]
On 23 January 2020, Parsons featured as a panellist in a Good Morning Britain debate over whether Australia should 'sell koala fur' to fund bushfire aid. Parsons made the argument that dead koala fur could be sold "to raise money for the injured animals in the rescue centres."[26] This was criticised by animal rights activist, Wendy Turner Webster, who called his idea "grotesque",[5] alongside presenter Susanna Reid labelling the suggestion as "sick."[27] He was met with widespread public and media backlash from UK, Australian and New Zealand press, denouncing Parsons for his views.[28][29]
At the start of September 2020, it was announced Parsons would join the Daily Star as a weekly columnist. The newspaper described him: "Often controversial, Parsons will bring his no-holds-barred opinions to Daily Star Online, talking about the biggest events in television."[7]
On 3 June 2021, Parsons was also involved in a highly contentious Good Morning Britain debate with Richard Madeley, Charlotte Hawkins, and Dr Hilary Jones over whether under-30s should be punished for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine. Parsons argued under-30s should be punished, including bans from public venues.[34] He claimed in his Daily Star column, death threats made after the debate were being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.[35] The clip of the debate on X (Twitter) received over 500,000 views.[36]
Parsons appeared on 'Andrew Neil Live' on 23 June 2021 to debate whether employers could demand staff to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus before being allowed to return to the office. Morgan Stanley announced staff would need to be double-vaccinated to enter their New York offices, to which Parsons argued in favour of this action during the debate.[37][38]
ITV announced on 14 October 2021, Parsons would take part in an online Good Morning Britainspin-off called Off The Table, hosted by Julie Adenuga. The channel said: "The new series will feature four hot topic 15 minute episodes which will be published across a month, including money, climate change, cancel culture and life after Covid."[39]
On 27 October 2021, Channel 4 announced Parsons would be taking part in the tenth series of Celebs Go Dating on E4. Parsons and the show were criticised by The Independent's Sean O'Grady, calling Celebs Go Dating "sadistic" and claiming "he should be at school."[40] According to dating agent Anna Williamson, Parsons received the worst score in Celebs Go Dating history and was put on hold from further dates.[41]
On 14 February 2022, BBC announced Parsons would feature in the new celebrity series of Hot Property on BBC Three, which sees celebrities visit the homes of potential matches and eventually landing a blind date.[42]
Parsons started presenting for boohooMAN in March 2022, alongside Love Island series seven contestant Toby Aromolaran and series eight winner Davide Sanclimenti, in a series of videos published online.[43][44]
On 24 November 2022, Parsons announced a digital series for Channel 4 which was produced by Lime Pictures and 4Studios, which followed Parsons around the UK asking the public about love and relationships.[45][46]
2023–present: Welsh documentary, Daily Express and House of Commons
In March 2023, Parsons appeared in More than Daffs and Taffs, premiering on BBC iPlayer and S4C's Hansh. The series followed reality stars, including Gemma Collins, challenge clichés attached to Wales, presented by Miriam Isaac.[47]
Parsons returned to series twelve of Celebs Go Dating, which aired in August 2023, where he dated Made in Chelsea'sMark-Francis Vandelli on the request of agents Anna Williamson and Paul Brunson.[50]
On 1 February 2024, Parsons started writing for the Daily Express, first covering the return of series eighteen of The Apprentice.[8]
Since Parsons' appearance on The Apprentice, he has expressed controversial viewpoints in his newspaper columns, on television and radio.
Fur trade
Parsons supports the trade of animal fur. During his appearance on Good Morning Britain, he argued that the fur from koalas killed in the Australian bushfire could be used to "capitalise on and cater to" strong global demand for fur products.[5] Also explaining the fur could be used for "a scarf for example. It could be something someone could wear."[51]
Political correctness
Parsons is anti-PC and has criticised the removal of shows like Come Fly With Me, which was pulled from streaming services Netflix and BBC iPlayer.[52] He claimed there is a rise of a "snowflake movement" and is "excited we have [Spitting Image] on our screens that could offend people and pushes the boundaries beyond the sanitised and soporific 'entertainment' that we see nowadays."[53]
Royal Family
In an article published in response to Oprah with Meghan and Harry, Parsons supported the Queen and other members of the British royal family. He called the interview "Oscar-worthy" and "a shameless, callous, and brutal character assassination on the Royal Family", which aimed to "fatally destroy the reputation of the Queen."[54]
Vaccinations
Across several appearances in 2021, Parsons argued for vaccines against coronavirus. Debating on shows such as Good Morning Britain and GB News, Parsons strongly supported schemes that encouraged vaccinations against the virus.[55]
National service
During a Good Morning Britain debate on 25 January 2024, Parsons advocated for the return of National service after General Sir Patrick Sanders said Britain should train a "citizen army." Parsons' views garnered over five million views on X (Twitter) and millions more across other social media platforms.[56][57]
In December 2020, Parsons switched on the Christmas lights for the London Borough of Bromley, raising money for children's charity Go Beyond. He said, "I’m really looking forward to helping Bromley get festive and raising money for this brilliant cause".[63]
