Television presenter Rylan Clark has publicly celebrated his new boyfriend's birthday with a touching social media post, three months after the couple first made their romance official on Instagram.
A Romantic Birthday Tribute
On Monday, the 36-year-old star took to his Instagram Stories to share a sweet throwback photo in honour of Kennedy Bates's birthday. The snap, taken during their romantic getaway to Florence earlier this year, showed a beaming Kennedy standing outside the city's renowned Harry's Bar The Garden restaurant.
Rylan captioned the image, 'I'm Old, HBD [Happy Birthday] handsome', before posting a second, more intimate picture of the pair holding hands. Kennedy, who manages the Billy Bates & Sons funfair in Leicestershire, cut a dapper figure in a striped shirt and chinos for the occasion.
A New Chapter After Divorce
This public display of affection marks a significant new chapter for Rylan, who was married to Dan Neal for six years before their divorce in 2021. The former X Factor contestant has revealed that Kennedy is the first man he has introduced to his family since the split.
Rylan first announced the relationship last month during an appearance on Louis Theroux's How To Be In Love podcast. He confessed to being 'blatant' about the romance, going on multiple public dates which, to his amusement, 'nobody noticed'.
Future Plans and Family Hopes
The couple's relationship appears to be serious, with discussions already turning to long-term futures. During the podcast chat, Rylan confirmed that both he and Kennedy want to start a family, stating plainly, 'Yeah, I want kids. He wants kids.'
Reflecting on his current happiness, Rylan told Louis Theroux, 'Recently, I have gotten into a relationship, and it's great, and it feels very different to anything I've had before, which is a good sign to me.' He added that he was determined not to hide the relationship due to his public profile, choosing instead to enjoy this part of his life openly.
The confirmation of his new romance also served to quash long-running speculation that he was dating his close friend, Judge Robert Rinder. Rylan's BBC Radio 2 co-host, Lottie, added that she and colleagues had met Kennedy and thought he was 'lovely', with Rylan himself stating he is now 'happy' and 'very content'.
