Rob Rinder announces dad’s death aged 73 after being diagnosed with ‘poorly understood’ illness

| Live News reporter Published August 20, 2026 8:14am Updated August 20, 2026 9:24am Rob Rinder announced his dad’s death to his followers online (Picture: Shutterstock/Rob Rinder) Rob Rinder has revealed that his dad has died at the age of 73 after being diagnosed with an illness that has been ‘desperately under-researched’. The author, TV judge and criminal barrister shared the news with his followers that David Rinder, who worked as a London black cab driver for over 40 years, has died. David had been living with Lewy body dementia, leading Rob to become a vocal patron and advocate for the Lewy Body Society to raise awareness for the condition. Writing on Instagram, Rob wrote: ‘My dad died yesterday aged 73. I wasn’t sure whether to share this but if it brings attention to an illness too few people understand, perhaps it belongs here. ‘A London cabbie & lifelong Spurs supporter, he was there for every one of my brothers’ and grandsons’ football matches. I once represented him at the Carriage Office for bad driving; I loved him but the prosecution had a case…’ Rob, who is also known for his work presenting documentaries and co-hosting travel shows with Rylan Clark, said that his parents divorced when he was young, so he did not grow up with his dad at home. Rob said that Lewy Body dementia took his dad ‘far too young’ (Picture: WireImage) ‘We were very different men. I loved opera and all its drama; he loved Tottenham and cigarettes. We both took people as we found them and we both loved women, though in rather different ways. ‘I never once doubted his pride in me. When I came out he responded with magnificent indifference: I was still his son, there was nothing else to discuss.’ Rob praised the work of Jewish Care which became his dad’s home and ‘a place where dignity and tenderness were practised every day’. ‘A Jewish man, held in his final days by people of different faiths: a quiet reminder that what is sacred in us is also what we share. He died with his family around him loved and held to the last,’ he added. What is Lewy Body dementia? Lewy body dementia is a type of progressive dementia that causes trouble with thinking, movement, sleep and behavior. Sharing symptoms with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the brain disease is caused by abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein building up in the brain. These deposits are called Lewy bodies. One of the biggest differences between Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body dementia is that memory loss isn’t always the first or most prominent symptom. With the former, problems with attention, alertness, visual perception and movement can appear early, while memory can fluctuate. ‘Funny, beautifully flawed, loving and my dad. Lewy body dementia took him far too young. ‘It made the familiar strange and the certain uncertain. Dementia can obscure a person but it does not erase them. ‘At least one in ten people living with dementia has Lewy body’s, around 125,000 people in the UK yet it remains poorly understood, frequently missed & desperately under-researched. Please learn its name, learn its signs and if you can support the work to change that.’ Writing in the comments section of his post, Alan Carr and Angela Scanlon offered their condolences to the Judge Rinder star. The Celebrity Traitors winner wrote: ‘So sorry Rob,’ while Angela said: ‘I’m so sorry Rob. What a beautiful picture you paint of him xx Deals of the Day Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? This brand thinks so Could your star sign improve your skincare routine? This new beauty launch thinks so Best skincare for menopausal skin? This dermatologist-created treatment is tailored to you TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.