Judge Rinder has revealed he ditched his dreams of an acting career after realising that friend Benedict Cumberbatch was much better than him.
The star of ITV courtroom show 'Judge Rinder' tried to break into the industry while still a student, but quit after he and Benedict were pitted against each other in an audition.
Robert began attending the National Theatre school at the age of 14 alongside David Walliams and Matt Lucas, and met Benedict when they were students at the University of Manchester.
After giving up acting, Robert went on to pursue a career in criminal law, and landed his own show in 2014.
He is still close friends with Benedict, and the 'Sherlock' star officiated his Ibiza wedding to partner Seth Cummin in 2013.
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Benedict Cumberbatch
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The TV judge was then one of three best men at Benedict's wedding to Sophie Hunter last year.
Robert will return to screens next week, with his new ITV series 'Judge Rinder's Crime Stories', which will see him taking a closer look at real life crime.
Speaking of the show recently, he told PA: “The public want to understand real cases, to come to a conclusion themselves. They’re perfectly capable. That’s why we have juries. Crime drama is popular, but people want authenticity above all else these days.”
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Judge Rinder: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds
1. He genuinely knows his stuff(01 of09)
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He might be a barrister rather than a real-life judge, but Judge Rinder really knows his stuff, having worked as a barrister for the 2 Hare Court law-firm for 12 years before landing his job as a daytime TV star. (credit:Rex/Ken McKay/ITV)
2. He never intended to be a TV star(02 of09)
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During his days as a barrister, Robert Rinder says he never actually wanted to be a TV star, but has told the Daily Mail that getting his current job was "an exquisite accident", which came because he was doing "a little scriptwriting on the side". (credit:Steve Meddle/Rex/ITV)
3. He insists he's not "too mean"(03 of09)
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Despite some people thinking he might go too far with his putdowns - which he insists he comes up with completely by himself - he told Digital Spy: "I would never ridicule somebody for the public's entertainment. I really wouldn't, and I speak to the people who come on the show as I would my own clients." (credit:ITV)
4. He might want to put that gavel down, to be honest.(04 of09)
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Despite his penchant for enthusiastically banging his gavel, they aren't actually used in UK trials, which has been one of the biggest qualms that more pedantic viewers have had with the show. (credit:ITV)
5. Benedict Cumberbatch is his good mate.(05 of09)
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Judge Rinder and Benedict Cumberbatch are actually good friends from university - so much so that he was the best man at the 'Sherlock' actor's wedding to Sophie Hunter in February 2015.Even more impressively, Benedict was specially ordained so that he could perform the ceremony when Judge Rinder married his husband in 2013.Let's keep our fingers crossed that one day they collaborate on some kind of 'Judge Rinder'/'Sherlock' crossover episode. (credit:Brian To/WENN)
6. Even the celebs are flocking to his court-room(06 of09)
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In one memorable episode of 'Judge Rinder', Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace appeared in his court room because she had a grievance with her former 'Big Brother' housemate, Michael Cheshire.Sadly Nicola McLean did not put in an appearance, marking the first time the two had spent more than 10 minutes apart in the past five years. (credit:ITV)
7. He says not laughing is the toughest part of his job(07 of09)
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When quizzed by Legal Cheek about what has been the biggest 'nightmare' since launching his TV career, he claimed: "I broke down in a fit of laughter during a case involving a mother and daughter suing and counter-suing each other. "But I insisted that the production team keep the scene in.” (credit:WENN)
8. Fitness and justice are his two passions(08 of09)
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Away from his faux courtroom, Judge Rinder is actually a fitness fanatic, and has run marathons in both New York and London. (credit:ITV)
9. The legal community has embraced 'Judge Rinder'(09 of09)
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Let's face it, 'Judge Rinder' isn't exactly 'Question Time' when it comes to high-brow viewing, but he is insistent that the law community are behind the show.He told Digital Spy: "There's real integrity. The legal principles that are applied are absolutely the same principle that would be supplied in a small claims court." (credit:ITV/This Morning)