Early Life
Born on the 11th January 1986 in Rochford, Essex, Riley grew up in the Southend on Sea area, where she attended Southend High School for Girls - a respected grammar school. A committed student, Rachel gained four As at A Level, going onto study mathematics at Oxford.
Countdown
In 2009, at the tender age of just 23, Rachel was encouraged by her mother to apply to be Carol Vorderman’s replacement on Countdown.
Having no desire to be a TV Presenter, Rachel says she only applied because she was interested in the numbers side of the game. Picked from more than a thousand applicants, Rachel said of the role: ‘There’s only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I’m absolutely thrilled.’
Off the back of her Countdown work, Rachel also landed roles in The Gadget Show, and on 8 out of 10 Cats.
Marriage
While studying at Oxford, Rachel met Jamie Gilbert, who she went onto have a four year relationship with. However, in 2009, the couple split. After a brief hiatus they were back together, and in 2011, on Rachel’s 25th birthday, Jamie proposed, with the couple getting married a year later.
Sharing a house in Essex with their three cats, Rafa, Beasty and Becks, the couple looked like the picture of domestic bliss. That is, until the Strictly Curse struck again….****
Strictly Come Dancing
In 2013, just a few months after her wedding, Rachel was confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing. The exhaustive rehearsals, on top of her already hectic work schedule for Countdown and The Gadget Show, apparently took their toll on her marriage - with Jamie being left at their Essex home.
And after just a few weeks on the dance show, where Rachel was partnered with Pasha Kovalev, Rachel announced in November 2013 that her marriage was over.
Speaking of the split, Rachel told OK! that the show ‘gave me some distance to realise what I wanted,’ and said that their nine year relationship had simply run its course.
Despite suspicions swirling that Riley had started a relationship with dance partner and close friend Pasha, the couple allegedly did not become an item until the summer of 2014 - going public in September.
Speaking of their union, Rachel told OK!: ‘He’s very sweet – a lovely, old-school gentleman. It’s the Russian way. He’ll carry things, open the door, bring me flowers and chocolates.’
Secret Sportswoman
A keen Man Utd supporter since she was a kid, Rachel also loves cycling - part of how she keeps her incredible figure.
