Rachel Riley is a famous British television presenter and mathematician, best known for co-hosting the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown.
She first joined the show in 2009, replacing 22-year-old Carol Vorderman.
Her novel approach to the role and her background in mathematics helped raise her profile.
She also co-hosts the comedy spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Riley’s TV career has diversified over the years, including shows such as The Gadget Show and It’s Not Rocket Science, further cementing her status as a towering figure in British television.
contour
- Full name: Rachel Annabell Riley
- Date of birth: January 11, 1986
- Age: 38 years old
- Gender: Female
- Place of birth: Rochford, Essex, UK
- Nationality: British
- – Occupation: TV host, mathematician
- Height: 5 feet 7 inches (1.7 meters)
- Parents: Christopher Riley (father), Celia Riley (mother)
- Siblings: Alex Riley (brother)
- Spouse: Pasha Kovalev (m. 2019)
- Children: Maven Aria Kovalev (born in December 2019), Noa Kovalev (born in November 2021)
- Relationship status: Married
- Religion: Identifies as Jewish (non-religious)
- Ethnicity: British, Irish and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
- Net worth: $5 million
early life and education
Rachel Riley, 38, was born in Rochford, Essex, on January 11, 1986, and grew up in the Thorpe Bay area of Southend-on-Sea. Her father, Christopher Riley, was an accountant and her mother, Celia Riley, was a homemaker. Rachel has a younger brother named Alex.
Her family background includes English, Irish and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Although she considered herself non-religious, she acknowledged her Jewish heritage, which played an important role in her later activism.
Rachel attended Thorpe Hall School and Southend High School for Girls, achieving excellent results and achieving 4 A’s in her A-Level examinations. She subsequently studied mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford University, where she received a second-class honors degree.
Initially, she considered a career in finance and completed an internship at Deutsche Bank, but the corporate environment pushed her toward television.
personal life
Rachel Riley’s personal life has been under public scrutiny since her marriage to Jamie Gilbert, whom she met while they were students at Oxford University. They married on August 11, 2012, but separated 16 months later in November 2013.
After appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, she began dating dance partner Pasha Kovalev. The couple, who married in a quiet ceremony in Las Vegas in June 2019, now have two daughters: Maven Aria (born in December 2019) and Noa (born in November 2021).
In addition to her family life, Rachel is a passionate advocate for numerous causes, particularly those related to anti-Semitism, which has impacted her public life in recent years.
Profession
Rachel Riley began her career in finance, but her distaste for the corporate environment led her to take on more public-facing roles. In 2009, she was selected from more than 1,000 candidates to succeed Carol Vorderman as co-host of Countdown.
Although initially questioned due to her lack of television experience, she quickly found success on the show, co-starring in more than 1,000 episodes by 2019.
In addition to Countdown, Riley has appeared on the comedy spin-off show 8 Out of 10 Cats Countdown since 2012. She also appeared in The Gadget Show and Strictly Come Dancing, where she met her future husband Pasha Kovalev.
Her interest in science led her to co-host the ITV show It’s Not Rocket Science in 2016. Rachel is also known for her activism, particularly her outspoken stance on antisemitism in British politics, which has led to her active campaigning on social media.
Awards
- Rear Area of the Year Award (2017)
- Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2023 for services to Holocaust education and raising awareness of anti-Semitism
net worth
Rachel Riley has an estimated net worth of $5 million. She has amassed her wealth primarily through television shows such as Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Countdown. Her appearances on various television shows and her activism helped cement her financial success.
dispute
Rachel Riley has been at the center of several high-profile controversies, not least for her outspoken criticism of anti-Semitism in British politics.
She has been outspoken against Labour’s handling of anti-Semitism under Jeremy Corbyn, which has sparked both support and backlash. In 2018, she publicly criticized the party’s response to accusations of anti-Semitism, sparking heated debate online and harassment directed at her.
In 2019, Riley was criticized for tweeting a photo that altered a famous image of Jeremy Corbyn, sparking the anger of those who accused her of manipulating historical context. The tweet was directed at Corbyn and was labeled inflammatory, with some users even calling for her to be sacked from Countdown.
Riley has also taken legal action against those who spread slander about her on social media. In 2022, she won a libel case against blogger Michael Sivier, who accused her of harassing a Labor activist.
Riley was awarded £50,000 in compensation following the incident. Amid these controversies, she remained an outspoken advocate for Holocaust education and the fight against anti-Semitism.
social media
- Instagram: @rachelrileyrr
- Twitter: @RachelRileyRR
film chronology
- Countdown (2009 to present)
- 8 out of 10 cats count down (2012-present)
- Gadget Show (2013-2014)
- Strictly Come Dancing(2013)
- It’s Not Rocket Science (2016)
- Friday Night Football (2016-2017)
