'WE'D MARRY EACH OTHER TOMORROW'

Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark head off together to discover the art treasures of Italy - and find out more about themselves along the way

- LAUREN MORRIS

While presenter Rylan Clark and TV lawyer Rob Rinder may seem like the ultimate odd couple, the pair reveal they bonded over their similarities while filming their new BBC Two show – including the fact they share a divorce lawyer.

“Me and Rob, we’ve been through a lot of the same things,” says Rylan, who split from husband Dean Neal in 2021. “We have the same f**king lawyer – she earned a fortune out of us! We’re both recently divorced and we’re both finding ourselves.”

With Rylan, 35, embracing single life and Rob, 45, still processing his 2018 divorce from lawyer Seth Cumming, the pair head on an educational – and sometimes debauched – journey across Italy in Rob And Rylan’s Grand Tour.

The duo follow in the steps of 19th-century poet Lord Byron, admiring the art of Venice, the sculptures of Florence and finally the operas of Rome. Not only did they learn a lot over in Italy, they also brought back with them a lifelong friendship.

“We’d marry each other tomorrow,” Rylan says, with a smiling Rob adding, “Platonically!”

Rylan continues, “I genuinely don’t get connections with people that often in life. I could call Rob at three in the morning and say one word – I know he’d be in fits of laughter. I could also call Rob and say, ‘I need help,’ and he’d be there straight away and vice versa.”

Marking the 200th anniversary of Byron’s death, the pair visit some of Italy’s most iconic landmarks – with Rob realising just how perceptive former X Factor contestant Rylan can be.