Rob Rinder Finally Admits the Truth About His Relationship with Rylan Clark
As rumours continue to swirl about whether ITV stars Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark have taken their relationship beyond friendship, Rob has now opened up exclusively to MailOnline, confirming their bond has deepened significantly.
The 45-year-old barrister and TV presenter revealed that their connection is no longer just a simple friendship — in fact, it has evolved into something resembling a comfortable, long-term marriage. “Our relationship now is definitely more than just friendship,” Rob admitted. “People thought we were together, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’re like an old married couple.”
Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder together filming their Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour show for the BBC
Fans saw the pair celebrating together in style at last night’s BAFTAs, where Rob looked at his towering 6ft4in companion with unmistakable affection. The duo were hailed as the “perfect couple” by excited onlookers on the red carpet at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
“It’s always a joy to be alongside him,” Rob told MailOnline, adding that they have never been closer.
Sharing a snapshot from their recent trip to Italy, Rob captioned the image with a poignant Lord Byron quote: “Friendship may, and often does, grow into love,” sparking waves of speculation and well-wishes from fans hoping for a new romantic beginning.
Despite the closeness, Rob was clear they are not officially a couple. “We aren’t a couple. It’s exactly as Rylan said — we’re like a very old married couple. We row, we laugh, and we don’t have sex,” he explained candidly.
The pair’s new show, Grand Tour, premiered last night on BBC 2 to critical acclaim. During the moving episode, they opened up about their painful divorces and how they’re rebuilding their lives on what’s been described as a bittersweet “heartbreak holiday.”
Rylan in a picture taken by Rob while filming the show last year
Viewers witnessed emotional moments, including Rob breaking down as Rylan revealed his darkest times after his marriage to Dan Neal ended in 2021. The pair toasted “to love” amid tears and honest confessions, leading many viewers to remark on their undeniable chemistry and suggest they could be the “perfect couple.”
Rob, who was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to Holocaust education, described Rylan as “the real deal.” “He’s not just the friend you call in a crisis — that’s the easy part. He’s the mate who celebrates with you when great things happen, and that’s the true mark of friendship,” Rob said.
Filming the first episode took them to Venice, where Rob shared his passion for art with Rylan. Their journey included learning about Venice’s famous masked Carnival, glass blowing, and even conducting Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the very church where it premiered.
They also discussed their divorces against the backdrop of the city’s grand canals, offering heartfelt insight into their personal struggles and hopes for the future.
Rob and Rylan’s friendship began as a distant acquaintancehip, united only by their shared divorce lawyer. But filming their candid three-part series brought them much closer, as both looked to move beyond painful pasts by embracing new experiences far outside their comfort zones.
Their Grand Tour retraces the steps of 18th and 19th-century English aristocrats, especially the Romantic poet Lord Byron, who famously fled scandal to find freedom in Venice and beyond.
“I don’t often compare myself to Byron, but I’m also a divorcee,” Rob said. “And so is Rylan. We’re both looking for a fresh start.”
Rylan, 35, who was married to ex-Met detective Dan Neal for five years, said their friendship has evolved: “We were just mates before, but now we’re really close friends. We’ve both been through a lot, so we’re escaping it all on this Grand Tour, experiencing new things.”
While Rob is passionate about art, architecture, and classical music, Rylan joked his closest experience to classical music is Pete Tong’s Ibiza dance tunes with an orchestra — but he eagerly embraced the culture nonetheless.
Their journey took them from Venice to Florence, where Rylan discovered a new appreciation for architecture, and finally to Rome, where they explored Baroque opera and its dramatic history.
Making the show has been a transformative experience. “I come from a working-class background with no real exposure to art,” Rylan said. “Now I see culture in a new light. I wanted to bring Rob out of his shell, and he’s taught me to appreciate a bit more refinement. We balance each other perfectly.”
Is this the start of something more between Rob and Rylan? Fans certainly hope so.
