Rob Rinder shares rare insight into love life in new BBC series Passage to India

Good Morning Britain star Rob Rinder and This Morning star Rylan are back on our screens for a new travel show on BBC 2, and the pair were willing to share some rare updates on their romantic lives.

Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India, which aired on the channel tonight (September 14), sees the famous ITV stars follow in the footsteps of Rob’s favourite novelist, EM Forster.

The show has already been praised by The Guardian as ‘the funniest TV tour of the country ever created’ - and episode 1 kicked off with the festive celebration of Rylan's birthday.

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The pair were lying in a comfy-looking hotel bed and wearing their robes as they prepared to tuck into some delicious looking chocolate birthday cake, when Rob asked Rylan: "What are your hopes for this year?

"Just be happy," Rylan responded. "I feel like the last few years... When we were in Italy I think I was still trying to find myself. And I think a year's passed and I know who I am, I know what I want and I know I'm good enough."

Rob then shared a rare insight into his dating life, saying: "I thought I wanted a scaffolder who could read Proust, as you know. But basically all I want is just someone who can make me laugh."

After a brief pause, Rylan responded: "You are never touching me."

"What are you talking about?! I'm just saying..." Rob replied in confusion as Rylan admitted: "I'm a bit drunk on the champagne."

"Just somebody that can make me laugh, like you," Rob continued, as Rylan commented: "That's the one that I've learned. The only thing that matters is that when there's Sunday night sh** TV on is that if that person makes you laugh, wants to know how your day's been and wants to be laying with you. That's all that matters."

Rob then said: "I think it's hard because when you find somebody like you that makes you genuinely belly laugh from your soul, you've got me anyway. So that's a fair point."

"You can have you cake.... and then you can sleep with someone else," Rylan concluded as Rob started laughing.

Tonight’s episode was the first of three, with Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India returning next Sunday at 9pm.

The official BBC synopsis reads: “Following their grand tour of Italy, Rob Rinder and Rylan are going out of the art galleries and into the teeming streets of one of the world’s oldest and greatest civilisations - India.

“They hope to travel in the footsteps of Rob's favourite author, EM Forster, who wrote the novel A Passage to India.

“They begin their journey in Delhi, India’s capital – home to 34 million people, almost four times the population of London.

“They visit the chaotic street market of Chandni Chowk, where Forster began his journey, the 16th-century architectural masterpiece Humayun’s Tomb, and the Lodhi Colony, where the buildings are covered in giant paintings.

“The pair meet billionaire art collector Shalini Passi, and activist and rapper Naveen Koomar, who invites Rob and Rylan to perform their own self-penned rap out on the street.

“And their time in Delhi ends at the Kathputli Colony, where master puppeteer Puran invites Rob and Rylan to try pulling a few strings themselves.”

In May 2024, the popular duo previously partook in another 3-part series for BBC Two titled Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour, which saw them visiting Venice, Florence and Rome.

The pair decided to follow in the footsteps of famous poet Lord Byron and opened up about their own broken hearts on the journey.

The show won them a BAFTA for Best Factual Entertainment, so it is no wonder that they have reunited for a brand new adventure.

Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India airs Sunday nights on BBC Two and is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.