Rob Rinder on the unforgettable thing he did with Rylan in Venice
We spend 60 Seconds with barrister-turned-broadcaster Rob Rinder (Picture: Getty/BBC/PA)
Bromance is in the air for barrister-turned-broadcaster and author Rob Rinder, 45.
In this week’s 60 Seconds he talks about his friendship with Rylan, releasing his inner Beyonce and one of his favourite words.
Rob also reveals the cringey encounter he had with Harry Styles that he struggled to, ahem, Styles out…
What is the strangest case you worked on as a barrister?
I had funny cases when I first started, 25 years ago nearly. There were cases when I’d get somebody bail, or acquitted for shoplifting and to thank me they would –
I must emphasis I wouldn’t accept it – but they’d go and steal a box of chocolates to thank me [laughs].
You published your debut novel The Trial last year. Are you working on a follow-up?
I am indeed! It’s called The Suspect… [protagonist] Adam Green, he’s loosely based on me – is a barrister who comes
from a working-class community and ends up in the rarefied world of the Bar. It starts off with a murder that happens live on daytime TV. The question is: did the chef do it? Is he guilty of killing Britain’s beloved daytime host?
Rob is a barrister-turned-broadcaster and author (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Is the suspect based on any celebrity chefs you’ve met?
I have to say – for legal purposes – I was really worried about that. But no, I don’t think so. It’s the type of litigation I could live without! [Laughs]
What other projects do you have in
the pipeline?
Rylan and I have gone on the Grand Tour. Rylan is an exquisite human being in every conceivable sense. Kind and piercingly intelligent – anybody that doesn’t understand or intuitively know just how bright he is,
I don’t think can be intelligent.
What were the highlights of your trip?
Wearing drag with him in Venice. Walking in heels with Rylan in
St Mark’s Square was a moment I’ll never forget.
Rob is currently on our screens with his friend for BBC show Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour (Picture: BBC/Rex TV/Zinc Media/Lana Salah)
Did you come up with a drag name?
Rylan came up with one. I’m not going to ruin it, but I will tell you… I said, ‘How do you think I look?’ And he looked me up and down and went, ‘It’s giving Pauline Fowler!’ [Laughs]
I’m sure there’s a compliment in
there somewhere… you were also fab-U-lous on Strictly Come Dancing.
Do you still dance?
I loved Strictly. There was absolutely no downside when I did it. It was joyful. I go to dance fitness… I think I look like some version of Beyoncé!
Rob describes his strictly journey as ‘joyful’ (Picture: James Shaw/REX/Shutterstock)
Out of interest, do you have a favourite word?
There’s something so delicious in the onomatopoeic sound of a totally appalling swear word deployed beautifully… I also like putting together words that might be polar opposites, like cock-womble.
Actually, hang on, my favourite word is a Yiddish one, and it reminds me of my grandfather. It’s davka. It means being contrarian… thinking about life in this way, that the world might write your story but you have the power to hold or grab the pen back and write your own chapters.
Tell me about your partnership with Miracle-Gro and its Have Yourself
a Gro-ment campaign. It sounds blooming marvellous!
If you’re a new gardener like me who found the joy of putting things in a pot in lockdown, there’s a sense of actual, genuine, practical and, I would say, spiritual delight in growing something on a small balcony or terrace, like I’ve got, that evolves into a cucumber or tomato that you can eat or seeing a flower bloom.
How else do you like to unwind?
It’s always books. Most of the time you can find me asleep with a book over my head and my glasses still on.
Can you share an unpopular opinion with me?
Celebrities – who are not with their children – who make their money by being on TV or film, when people kindly and politely ask them for a selfie, if they refuse, they should get themselves a real job. There’s an opinion!
Harry once shared a hug with Rob (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Have you ever had an awkward
showbiz encounter?
Where do we start?! [Laughs]. I met
Harry Styles in the gym once and he hugged me. My friends described it as social euthanasia.
Why? It was just a nice hug, right?
No, no. By then I’d got way in deep about saying how… I didn’t know what I was saying. I think I may have even offered to marry his mum. In fact, I’m pretty sure I did!
Rob is partnering with Miracle-Gro to celebrate gardening Gro-Ments and the brand’s ongoing commitment to peat free. Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer
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