THANKS TO THE SUCCESS OF HIS courtroom TV show and his nifty dance moves on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, Robert Rinder is Britain’s best-known criminal barrister. Not that Robert, who goes by the professional name of Judge Rinder, is fussed about fame. “It’s the least interesting thing in the world,” he declares when we meet during a break from Strictly rehearsals. He leans forward and adds: “But it is also an enormous, jazz-handed privilege, and if anybody says it’s not they can come and see me.”
If this were an episode of his ITV show, which draws a very healthy daytime viewership of a million-plus, Rinder would now bring the gavel down. Case closed. But in person our answer to Judge Judy is not as strict as his TV persona, plus, with the show not returning until next year, he’s not in Judge Rinder mode.
There’s no time for settling court cases when you’re on Strictly (if, indeed, Rinder is still on the show by the time you read this). He’s done rather well with his cha-cha-cha, paso doble (to Gaga’s Born This Way, no less) and American Smooth, but if he doesn’t make it to the final he’ll be “absolutely fine” about it, Rinder admits.