Emma has "handed over the Bit On The Side reins entirely to Rylan Clark for the first time. He's said he's "excited" about it all, adding: "Emma has done the show for years and she has built such a good baby for me to look after. BBBOTS is such a good show, and if there was a spinoff show category at the Television Awards, I know we would be up there!

"I love the show so much, and I will always put the show first. This is my seventh series, so I know what works and what doesn't. Four years ago, that would have been me sitting in that audience. I totally get it!"

The quote is from a DS article, found here.

I used to only watch BOTS when Emma did it.. Not watching it at all this year then.

Bleugh! I shall NOT be watching that buffoon

where were you guys hiding out in january, emma left during the final week, she had her best bots moments flowers etc

I'm going to have to give it a miss this year.

At least I can watch it now had to miss her days

rylan has grown on me, he isnt that bad really.

wonder how many look at my teeth references we get

I'll miss Emma on BBBots, but I'm surprised Rylan has quite so many detractors on here. Like Emma, he lives and breathes the show, but I guess it all boils down as to whether you like the guy in the first place, and totally get that some couldn't stand the whole OTT performances on XFactor. However I thought by now, a few would concede he'd matured and wasn't actually that bad on BBBots. He's pretty good at keeping the mad audience and guests in check and there have been numerous times where he has asked the more probing questions we've all hoped Emma would take them to task with in evictions.

Rylan has improved a lot in fairness.

But I still preferred BOTS in the days of Emma, Alice and Jamie. That combination really worked for me.

I totally agree but I think the producers had a big part in this .

In the Emma Alice and Jamie era I got the feeling that those presenters could voice their own opinions rather than the producers.

Also like the bb itself it had the fun element.

Bring back the trio.

Despite my initial reservations I actually don't mind him. His enthusiasm is quite endearing. There could be much worse presenters who would make it unwatchable for me.

So long as he doesn't start promoting some awful middle-aged woman again.

I think Rylan has been a better presenter on BOTS than Emma.

(Why do we get screechy-voiced Emma, btw, when other shows don't?)

they live in a world of their own
they ignore when she looks at the camera and says "we will be back in the xx" for the next BB that they then claim is scrapped already & they ignored it when emma had her lad BOTS in the new year and made it clear it was the last she was doing...

Or perhaps they hadn't bothered with the show in ages because it's terrible.
Hence it being news to some.

Someone who hardly ever watched decides they won't be watching at all.

Forgive us for not considering BOTS in crisis in light of this extraordinary development.

I haven't suggested that the show is in crisis,it's part of the BB package deal that C5 signed up for so it will be on the air for the foreseeable future even if it's in timeslot where 200K is considered ok.
I pointed out exactly why the this could have been considered newsworthy to someone who doesn't watch BOTS ie the vast majority of TV viewers.

I like Rylan but i'll definitely miss Emma on BOTS as I liked her better. Also I don't really like the fact Rylan is doing it 5 nights a week, would rather he shared the job with someone else

Bring back Zezi !!

that isnt even funny, but saying that bots doesnt get shown on a sunday, so she would at least probably turn up for work

The good old days.. No idea why they replaced them with Rylan and AJ.. Alice and Jamie made the show for me.

I like Rylan I just find him too loud for that time of night, I liked Emma on bots as earliest it comes on is 10pm and regardless of her enthusiasm for the show she is significantly quieter about it than Rylan so as much as I do like him I can't take him that time of night - I may however watch bots the morning after if BB holds my interest enough to care this time (I'm trying to avoid reading about the contestants as Id rather form opinions based on what I see not what I read)

I'm right with you. Rylan has the interviewing skills of a 7 year old.