Rylan Clark shared a passionate kiss with an Italian during a fun-filled night out with Rob Rinder during the second episode of their BBC show.
The presenter and singer, 35, stars alongside the barrister, 45, in their new travel show Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, which sees the pair travelling around Italy.
The duo retrace the steps of the 18th and 19th century English aristocrats who left the confines of British society behind to seek freedom and adventure on the classic upper-class gap year – a Grand Tour of the Continent’s cultural capitals.
In particular, Rob and Rylan follow the most famous Grand Tourist of all, Romantic poet Lord Byron, on the 200th anniversary of his death, who travelled to Venice in 1816 and then on to Florence and Rome.
The latest episode of the show aired on Sunday night, and saw them arrive in stunning Florence.
After exploring the city, Rylan convinced a reluctant Rob to go on a night out to a gay bar and meet some men.
Both men have endured painful divorces and have admitted that the three-part series worked its way into being a ‘heartbreak holiday’.
And Rylan – whose marriage to husband Dan Neal ended in 2021 after six years – looked ready to throw himself into single life.
He admitted that he has struggled with his self-esteem, but that being on the trip with Rob had helped him gain in confidence.
Rylan said:Â ‘I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’ve not go that much confidence in myself. But now I’m here with Rob, learning whilst having a bit of fun… I’ve never felt more comfortable in myself than I have now.’
Displaying his newfound confidence, he flirted up a storm with the locals and approached a handsome man named David to share the only Italian he’d learned, which turned out to be a very suggestive phrase.
And it worked like a charm, as a dancing Rob delightedly pointed over to the bar of the club where Rylan and David shared a few snogs.
The smitten couple could be seen laughing together outside and sharing a charged goodbye.
It comes after the first episode of the show had seen Rylan declare he was ready to move on and find love again.
He said: ‘This trip for me is part of my restart in life. I’m 34 and I’m young enough to start again, when it comes down to my personal life.
‘I’ve got no limits now, nothing phases me. I’m willing to try anything or anyone.’
Rylan’s romantic dalliance came after he suffered a confidence wobble earlier in the episode, and admitted to struggling with his body image as he and Rob prepared to pose as life models.
They had visited a local artist, named Sophia, who celebrated different bodies by painting models nude and wrapped in bondage tape.
But while Rob was happy to strip down, Rylan was hesitant and said: ‘I’m going to let you do this. I don’t think I could do what you’re doing right now.’He elaborated: ‘I just don’t feel confident enough. I don’t know, I don’t like my arms, I don’t like my legs, I don’t like my body, I don’t like this, I don’t like that.’
Taking himself away to think about it, he admitted to the producers: ‘I just feel like in my past I’ve been made to feel quite s*** by people.’
Rylan tried to pep himself up, saying: ‘I feel like I’d let Rob down if I don’t do it. I’ve just got to not care.’
He confessed: ‘I think people would think that I think I look good when actually it’s the complete opposite. I just feel like I’ve got to be perfect, and I’m not.’
Eventually with some encouragement from Rob, Rylan got up the courage to join him in posing for the portrait.
Once he saw the end result the X Factor star couldn’t hide his delight, admitting: ‘I’m giving Jesus. Do you know an elderly woman once stopped me in a petrol garage and said you look like the Messiah. And now I see it.’
The previous episode had seen pals Rob and Rylan become emotional as they opened up about their painful divorces.Â
While enjoying a drink in Venice, Rylan admitted that he ‘tried to end it all’ amid his marriage breakdown, causing Rob to break down in tears.
He told Rob: ‘I think it was a culmination of my marriage breaking down and actually me stopping for the first time in 10 years.
‘Then, all of a sudden, I hit quite a big speed bump instead of carrying on, I just sunk.
‘It was the worst experience of my life. I just went on a downward spiral. I tried to end it, I tried to finish myself off.
‘I didn’t eat, I went down to 9st. I’m 6ft 4 Rob, like I look[ed] horrendous.’Â
Rob then tearfully opened up on his own divorce, after he split from his ex-husband, barrister Seth Cumming in 2018
He said: ‘I was once so in love when I was in my early twenties, but it wasn’t reciprocated. And it never has been.’
Rylan consoled his co-star as they sought comfort in their shared life experiences.
He said: ‘Do you know what, Rob? We’re here once, we’ve been through quite a lot of stuff.’
‘What’s it taught us? Nothing’s forever unless its right,’ as Rob wiped away his tears.
Rob and Rylan previously sparked romance rumours last week by saying their ‘friendship is growing into love‘, but have confirmed they aren’t a couple.
Speaking to MailOnline at the TV BAFTAs last Sunday, Rob explained they shared a deep bond and gushed that Rylan was ‘the real deal’.
He said:Â ‘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’.