Television star Rylan Clark has delighted fans by sharing a collection of intimate holiday photographs from a romantic getaway to the Maldives with his new boyfriend, Kennedy Bates. The images, posted on Instagram, depict the couple enjoying a luxurious retreat at the Adaaran Select Meedhupparu hotel, radiating happiness and affection.
A Dreamy Escape to the Maldives
The series of stunning snaps includes a hotel room bed adorned with rose petals and a personalised welcome message reading, 'Welcome home Rylan & Bates.' Other photographs capture Kennedy relaxing on the beach, the couple toasting by the sea, and a playful shot of Rylan shirtless with a heart shape painted on his back in suncream. The visuals paint a picture of a blissful and romantic escape for the pair.
Heartfelt Caption and Fan Reactions
Rylan accompanied the carousel of images with the caption, “You were perfect. New year, new friends, new beginnings.” This sentiment resonated deeply with his followers, who flooded the comments section with supportive messages. Many expressed joy at seeing the TV favourite in such a positive place, particularly following his difficult divorce from ex-husband Dan Neal five years ago.
A host of famous friends also joined in celebrating the loved-up snaps. Zoe Ball commented, “Love this love for you Baby,” while Rob Rinder humorously teased, “This is the standard I had in mind for you.” Other notable reactions included Josie Gibson posting a string of red heart emojis, Christine McGuinness writing, “Love love love,” and Lizzie Cundy joking, “Am I going to be bridesmaid, or what?”
Going Public with the Romance
Rylan, 37, first revealed his relationship with Kennedy Bates, 48, who manages Billy Bates & Sons funfair in Leicestershire, during an interview on Louis Theroux's How To Be In Love podcast last August. In the conversation, Rylan confessed to being 'blatant' about the romance, going on multiple public dates, yet feeling surprised that 'nobody noticed.'
Future Plans and Family Discussions
The couple have already discussed the possibility of starting a family together, with Rylan telling Louis Theroux it was something they both knew they wanted. He described the relationship as feeling 'very different to anything I've had before,' which he considers a positive sign. Rylan emphasised that this is the first person he has introduced to his family in four years, highlighting the significance of this new chapter in his life.
Reflecting on his approach to the relationship, Rylan stated, “I'm not going to just because of my job and I don't want people finding out, I'm not going to miss out on this part. I'm loving what I've got at the minute and I want to keep it that way.” The holiday snaps serve as a beautiful testament to this commitment and the couple's shared happiness.
