Television favourite Rob Rinder has shared a deeply personal loss — and fans are rallying around him after a heartfelt post revealed the passing of his beloved grandmother, Frances, at the age of 96.
The Judge Rinder star, 45, took to Instagram on Sunday to post a moving tribute, leaving fans emotional and speculating about what’s next for the beloved TV barrister.
“She adored me, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with fierce love… What a limitless gift it is to have had her in my life,” he wrote, alongside touching images of the pair together — one showing them lying side-by-side in bed, smiling gently, and another holding hands during her final days.
In a particularly emotional moment, Rinder posted a youthful photo of Frances in her prime, standing confidently between two well-dressed men — offering a glimpse into the vibrant life she once lived.
He also made sure to thank Jewish Care, the social care organization that supported her, in a gesture that touched many of his followers.
Celebrity friends rushed to support Rob during this emotional time.
Vanessa Feltz wrote: “Oh Rob I am so sorry to hear your sad news. I wish you and your family long life and send you my deepest condolences dear friend.“
TV host Cat Deeley added: “Sending love and thinking of you,” while Ruth Langsford commented: “So sorry for your loss Rob. How wonderful to have had her, and all that love, in your life for so long.“
But just as fans were expressing their sympathy, another side of Rob’s life caught the public eye — and it’s sparking whispers across social media…
“Rob and Rylan”: Just Good Friends — or Something More?
It all comes after Rinder’s recent on-screen chemistry with presenter Rylan Clark, which set tongues wagging during their press tour for their new BBC2 travel series, Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour.
Fuel was added to the fire when Rylan jokingly confessed on This Morning that he “woke up with Rob on top of me” while filming in Italy — sparking wild speculation online about the true nature of their relationship.
“In Venice, we had separate accommodation. By Rome, I was waking up under him, going, ‘Get off me, barrister!’” Rylan laughed.
The pair, who both recently went through public divorces, have described each other as “family” and “the perfect platonic marriage” — but that hasn’t stopped fans from hoping for something more.
Rinder posted cryptically: “Friendship may — and often does — grow into love.“
And while Rylan has officially denied any romance (“I am not dating Rob Rinder,” he wrote bluntly on X), the public remains unconvinced. Their flirty glances, physical closeness, and off-screen bonding haven’t gone unnoticed by social media sleuths.
“Ohh the way Rylan is looking at Rob… looks like he loves him a little bit,” one fan tweeted.
“@Rylan just loving you & @RobbieRinder – your friendship is fab!!” wrote another.
At the 2024 TV BAFTAs, Rob addressed the speculation directly, calling Rylan “the real deal” and explaining:
“We aren’t a couple. It is what Rylan said — we are like a very old married couple. We row, laugh together, and don’t have sex.”
Beyond the Cameras: A Bond Forged in Grief and Growth
As Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour premiered on BBC2, it became clear that this friendship had been built not only on shared laughter but also on shared pain.
Both men, having faced heartbreak in their personal lives, were more than ready to leave their comfort zones and embrace new adventures. The series follows them retracing the iconic Grand Tour of 18th- and 19th-century aristocrats — a journey of culture, self-discovery, and unexpected moments of vulnerability.
Rob, the eloquent barrister; Rylan, the Eurovision presenter and former X Factor finalist — on paper, they couldn’t be more different. But in reality, their bond has become one of the most compelling stories of the season.
“He made me proud every single day,” Rob gushed during a press appearance.
“This man has become family to me,” Rylan echoed in a heartfelt post.
A Farewell… and a New Beginning?
As Rob mourns the loss of his beloved grandmother — a woman he called “a limitless gift” — the world watches as another chapter quietly unfolds.
Is it just friendship? Or something deeper?
Whatever it is, Rob Rinder is navigating it with the same grace and honesty he brings to every part of his life — and fans can’t get enough.
