Rob Rinder opens up on 'love story' with Rylan as the pair receive BAFTA

has lifted the lid on his "love story" with as the pair took home a BAFTA for their BBC Two series Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour. The pair came out on top in the Factual Entertainment category at Sunday's , after beating strong contenders such as and In Vogue: The 90s. Their three-part series saw the unlikely pair go on a cultural pilgrimage through Italy, following in the footsteps of Lord Byron and other 19th-century grand tourists.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, the telly judge wrote: "Still pinching myself... a BAFTA! For Grand Tour with the incomparable, utterly brilliant, and endlessly kind co-conspirator a person could ask for, Rylan. What began as a journey through art, history, and heart has become something far more meaningful: a celebration of friendship, curiosity, and the belief that culture belongs to everyone.

He continued: "Ours isn't a love story in the traditional sense. No candlelit dinners, no torrid affairs, just the deep, joyful kind of friendship that holds you up, keeps you laughing, and lets you be entirely yourself."

Rinder's tribute to his co-star comes after months of speculation from fans after the TV legal legend jokingly sparked engagement rumours while the pair were filming in Italy. Rylan joined in on the joke while at the BAFTAs, quipping that the show was about "two gay guys going through a divorce - but not with each other".

Backstage, Rylan was open about how personal the series felt for him, admitting: "The show, it happened at a really weird time for me. I wasn't fully over some of the breakdown of my marriage... It was the best therapy I needed."

Describing Rinder as the judge he was "flung with", Rylan looked back on how raw his emotions were when they started filming. "It was like being an adolescent again and starting again - but with cameras there," he shared.

The BBC has already confirmed a second series of , this time set in India. Rylan hinted that the journey would be "incredible", adding that it "might even top Italy".

Fans were quick to sing the pair's praises on Instagram, and one took to Rinder's post saying: "Congrats Rob & Rylan!! So very well deserved." Another added: "Thank you both for giving us such a joyous programme in a world that needs more of this!"

Meanwhile, a third gushed: "I bumped into you near St. Paul's just after your nomination had been announced and I probably barged into you working so I could congratulate you - you were very kind and gracious, and you also said you probably wouldn't win! Well, now I get to say another big, and well deserved, congratulations to you again and to everyone who made this glorious programme happen. Cannot wait to see the next series."