‘I just thought the whole thing was pointless’

Rob Rinder once made a sad confession about his childhood, admitting he felt “out of place”.
The TV favourite shot to fame thanks to his role on ITV’s Judge Rinder. Since then, he’s bagged appearances in the likes of Good Morning Britain, Celebrity Gogglebox and Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby – which is on today (October 13).
However, growing up, it wasn’t always easy for the beloved presenter…

He previously opened up about his childhood (Credit: ITV)

Rob Rinder on feeling ‘out of place’ as a child
Rob grew up in the north London suburb of Southgate. His father was a taxi driver and his mother started her own publishing business from her bedroom. Rob went to grammar school, then headed off to the University of Manchester where he studied politics and modern history at the University of Manchester, graduating with first-class honours.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2023, Rob was quizzed on whether he felt out of place, to which he said: “There are two answers to that – yes and no, which is not very helpful.”
Rob explained: “The no is, I think, being gay and growing up in a working-class community, you intuitively understand you’re outside, from the moment of consciousness of being gay, or even being culturally curious.”
He then went on to say how “in the silliest way” he felt “a different sort of impostor syndrome”. Rob added: “I didn’t suit the condition of childhood at all well. I just thought the whole thing was pointless.”

Rob said he ‘felt out of place’ (Credit: ITV)