TV presenters Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark have described their relationship as 'the perfect platonic marriage' after bonding over their shared experience of divorce. The pair, who were previously distant acquaintances with the same divorce lawyer, have grown close while filming their new three-part series, Rob & Rylan's Grand Tour.
The series follows them as they retrace the 18th- and 19th-century Grand Tour of English aristocrats, focusing on the poet Lord Byron. Both Rinder, 45, and Clark, 35, have endured painful divorces and sought a fresh start through the trip. 'We’ve both been through pain recently so we’re getting away from it on the original package holiday,' said Clark.
In Venice, they explored art by Tintoretto and Canaletto, learned glass blowing, and attended a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons in the church where it premiered. They also discovered how gay men found freedom at the city's masked Carnival. Clark, known for his flamboyant TV persona, reflected on the contrast between his public image and private self: 'Everyone knows me as Rylan – a laugh... whereas actually at home I’m Ross.'
In Florence, Clark was inspired by the Duomo's architecture, while in Rome they learned about castrati singers. 'We learned so much from each other,' said Clark, who comes from a working-class background. The series airs on BBC Two.
