This is the one thing you never knew about about Judge Rinder’s courtroom

WITH gleaming white teeth and a healthy dollop of sarcasm, Judge Rinder dishes out harsh judgements daily in his TV courtroom.

Those finding themselves on the wrong side of his gavel can be left with a hefty bill – as he can award sums of up to £5000 against the loser in a dispute.

But if you’ve ever wondered how the more hard-up defendants in the court will ever manage to pay the fine, there’s something you should know.

Whatever sum the legal eagle hands down… is actually paid by ITV.

The procedure is in line with US courtroom show Judge Judy, which also pays its contributors’ awards.

ITV confirmed that they do pay the awards, although they revealed that those taking part don’t get any other payments.

A spokesperson said: “We don’t pay any contributors a fee to appear on the show and – as is the case with other TV court shows – the production company does pay any award that is granted.”

As most viewers already know, former Strictly star Rob Rinder, 38, is not actually a judge.

However, his legal credentials are pretty solid –  he is a trained barrister with a double first in law from the University of Manchester, and was called to the bar at the tender age of 22.

He has been involved in numerous high profile international fraud cases, and was a prosecuting barrister after the murders of Leticia Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis, who died in a drive-by shooting in Birmingham in January 2003,

He is also a regular legal columnist in The Sun.