Rob Rinder has addressed a “really terrifying” discovery he made as he opens up about his friendship with Rylan Clark. Rob, 47, and 36 year old Rylan have forged an incredibly tight friendship over recent years.

This comes after the duo have journeyed to destinations including Italy and India for their television programmes together.

The debut series, the BAFTA-winning Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, witnessed the pair discussing their respective marriage breakdowns.

Rylan likened filming the programme to “like therapy” and confessed he “wasn’t really over” his separation from former husband Dan Neal during filming. Rob and Rylan’s closeness on the show sparked speculation that the pair were together.

Although Rob has described their relationship as being “like a marriage”, joking they “row all the time and don’t have sex”. Former X Factor star Rylan even said people believe Rob is the first person he speaks to each day.

Former X Factor contestant Rylan has even claimed people think Rob is the first person he contacts each morning.

When questioned about it on the Gaby Roslin podcast, Rob clarified: “We speak often. [Our friendship] Is real and it comes together in a much more concentrated fashion when we’re working together.”

This led Rob to reveal a bizarre image he discovered online. He said: “What’s terrifying is that people generate AI deepfakes of us getting married. I think I heard someone had cut and pasted me into the actual pictures of Rylan’s first wedding.”

Rylan wed former Big Brother star Dan in November 2015. The ceremony saw guests including Katie Price, Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford, James Arthur, Matt Willis and Emma Willis in attendance.

However, the former pair parted ways six years later following Rylan’s admission of infidelity earlier in their marriage.

Rylan revealed he assumed Dan would “understand” but was shocked when his husband chose to terminate their relationship instead.

During an appearance on This Morning, he explained: “Something was wrong and I couldn’t work it out. I had that gut feeling and it overtook my body. I told my ex how something happened years ago and told him.”

He added: “I expected [him to say] ‘I understand’ but it was the complete opposite and it threw me.”

Rylan has since begun a fresh romance with Kennedy Bates. The duo allegedly displayed their affection publicly at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in Chelmsford earlier this month.

A witness revealed to The Sun: “Rylan and his new man looked seriously in love, they were having a great time together in the VIP.

“They were laughing and joking, and there was lots of PDA. At one point, Rylan playfully smacked Kennedy on the bum when he headed off while his boyfriend stood in the queue for food. Kennedy was also chatting to Rylan’s mum, Linda; he’s clearly been accepted by the family.”

Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India returns at 9pm on BBC Two. This week the duo will be exploring the erotic temples of Khajuraho and floating down the Ganges.