Rylan Clark Chronicles Friendship Transformation with Rob Rinder
BBC Radio 2 presenter Rylan Clark has opened up about the precise moment his relationship with legal expert Rob Rinder underwent a significant transformation. The television personality detailed how their friendship has deepened considerably over time, tracing its evolution from their initial meeting to their recent collaborative projects.
The Mysterious First Encounter
Interestingly, neither Clark nor Rinder can pinpoint exactly where they first crossed paths. "I don't know where I met Rob," Clark admits playfully. "In my head, I'm going to say Venice, but it wasn't. It was way before." He even jokes that Rinder might not have been physically present for their inaugural encounter, claiming he once "broke into the set for Judge Rinder and banged Rob's gavel."
Recognising a Kindred Spirit
Clark reveals that he identified an immediate connection during their first proper conversation. "My first impression of Rob actually was... I knew I can have a laugh with him," he explains. "He said something on that call and we both just started cackling. And I was like, 'Oh, fine. We can be a bit near the mark. I haven't got to be on best behaviour.'"
This initial recognition of shared humour and compatibility laid the foundation for what would become a substantial friendship. Rinder himself reflected on this organic development, telling Radio Times that "great friendships don't have an origin story, they just manifest."
The Grand Tour Turning Point
The duo's relationship reached a pivotal moment during their acclaimed Grand Tour television series, which saw them travelling through Italian cities including Venice, Florence, and Rome. The programme became a ratings success while simultaneously strengthening their bond.
"We started Grand Tour – our Italy show – as mates," Clark recalls. "We ended it as friends. Now we've gone to India as really good friends." He emphasises that while their relationship has undoubtedly changed over time, "it's changed for the better."
Challenging Adventures in India
Their friendship faced new tests during their recent travels to India for another series. Clark confesses he approached the Delhi leg with considerable apprehension. "I was worried about everything," he admits. "Everyone said, 'You're going to get ill, you're going to get Delhi belly, it's going to be hot.' And I thought, 'This is my worst nightmare.'"
His concerns materialised almost immediately upon arrival. "I get off the plane, it must have been about midnight, and I walk into Delhi airport and get bit in the face by some mosquito thing and I've got a golf ball on the side of my cheek," he describes. "I thought, 'Here we go.' Not a great start."
The challenges continued with minimal sleep before being thrust into Delhi's chaotic traffic. "I then have about four hours' sleep, and am chucked into a tuk tuk in the middle of what I can only describe as a Wacky Races replay," Clark says. "I really dived into India head first."
Personal Transformations
Alongside their evolving friendship, Clark has undergone personal changes himself. He reveals spending "hundreds" shipping fake tan to India during filming but has since abandoned the product entirely. "It has now been six months since I last decided to slap on my favourite fake tan," the BBC Radio 2 star confirms.
This decision has brought unexpected liberation. "I have never felt so free in my life," Clark declares, adding playfully that his bedsheets have now "stayed white" and that his partner Kennedy Bates, whom he began dating last year, approves of his new natural look.
The journey from uncertain beginnings to genuine friendship demonstrates how shared experiences, humour, and mutual understanding can transform professional acquaintances into meaningful personal connections.
