HEARTBREAKING: Robert Rinder makes EMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT about feelings for Rylan after relationship goes PUBLIC

Robert Rinder has shared a touching message with his close friend and BBC co-star Rylan Clark. In a cryptic Instagram post about him being a “true friend”, the former Judge Rinder star added a snap of the pair of them embraced in a hug.

In the picture, Rob had his eyes closed, with a sad look on his face as he nuzzled into Rylan’s chest and the latter looked into the sun with his arms around him. Rob wrote: “A true friend is someone who knows when you need champagne and when you need silence.” The post appeared to be from their latest venture together as the sweet image was a behind the scenes shot from Rob and Rylan’s Greek Odyssey. Their televised journey took them from the splendour of the Acropolis in Athens to the Oracle at Delphi, to understanding the heroes of Sparta and getting to the root of hedonism on Mykonos.

Fans on the original post, which was shared on Rylan’s Instagram, declared that they loved seeing them together. One wrote: “Rob loves you doesn’t he? And I’m loving these programs.” Another added: “You guys together on tv is magic,” while a third said: “Can’t wait to watch, there’s such amazing chemistry between you both.”

Their closeness has often resulted in relationship rumours between the pair – with either of them not being shy about admitting their love for the other, but in a platonic way.

Talking at the BBC Radio 2 In The Park festival last year, Rylan said he “loves” the rumours they are involved in a romance. “Me and Rob are like an old married couple but we don’t have sex. We are a typical married couple,” he said.

“I love Rob. If you could marry your friends, I’d marry Rob because he is just the most wonderful man.” However, he warned: “If I ended up in a relationship with him I’d probably kill him in two days… not a good look, but I do love him.”

He was quick to correct any suggestion it was a “bromance”, declaring: “Oh no, it’s a full on romance! It’s just that we don’t have the sexual side of it. I love that man with all my heart.”

However, all rumours were officially squashed earlier this year, when Rylan made the decision to go public with his boyfriend. Sources told the press that this latest partner is Kennedy Bates, 47, who belongs to a thriving family fairground enterprise, Billy Bates and Sons.

During his podcast How To Be In Love, the former X Factor and This Morning personality revealed glimpses of his relationship, confessing both him and his partner have explored the possibility of starting a family together.

Chatting with his guest, Louis Theroux, Rylan declared: “I’m loving what I’ve got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.”

When Louis subsequently enquired whether the fresh couple were contemplating children, Rylan responded: “Yeah, I want kids. He wants kids.”

Although he didn’t reveal Kennedy’s identity, he did confess to being “very content” with his other half during the chat. It marks the first serious romance for Rylan, 36, since his public split from Dan Neal.