Rachel Riley is an English television host best known for co-hosting the puzzle game show ‘Countdown’ and its comedy spin-off ‘8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown’ on Channel 4. At age 22, she made her television debut as a mathematics graduate of Oriel College, Oxford. Riley went on to co-host the programs ‘It’s Not Rocket Science’ and ‘The Gadget Show’ due to his enthusiasm for popularizing mathematics and science. She has also appeared on a number of television programs, including ‘This Morning,’ ’12 Again,’ ‘Pointless Celebrities,’ and ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’, to mention a few. She has even competed in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Regarding her personal life, Riley is presently dating the performer Pasha Kovalev. The couple resides in London together.
Rachel’s Early Profession
Rachel Riley began her professional career in the financial industry. She interned at the London branch of Deutsche Bank. She had a negative experience working at the location. Due to the company’s male-dominated culture and early morning work schedule, she decided to resign. She then joined a price comparison startup and worked there for a while before entering the television industry.
A career in Television as a Presenter
Rachel Riley made her television debut in 2009 when she joined the game program ‘Countdown’ on Channel 4. She supplanted the long-serving presenter Carol Vorderman despite having no specific training or prior experience. As her popularity developed on ‘Countdown,’ Riley was offered the chance to co-host the show’s comedy crossover spin-off ‘8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown’ with comedian Jimmy Carr.
She co-hosted Channel 5’s ‘The Gadget Show’ with Jason Bradbury from 2013 to 2014. The English beauty hosted the program for three seasons before being replaced by Amy Williams. Next, she joined ‘It’s Not Rocket Science’ on ITV. Both Romesh Ranganathan and Ben Miller, co-hosts of this program, had a background in mathematics and physics. Riley joined Sky Sports in 2016 to co-host ‘Friday Night Football’ and ‘Fantasy Football Club’ alongside Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson, respectively. The following year, however, she quit ‘Friday Night Football.’
As a Contestant or Guest
In 2013, Riley competed on the eleventh season of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ with Pasha Kovalev as her dance partner. Riley was eliminated in the sixth week of the competition after losing the dance-off to Alja Korjanec and Abbey Clancy.
Till date, the English beauty has also made guest appearances on a number of TV programs, such as ‘Chris Moyles,’ Quiz Night’, ‘Celebrity Mastermind ‘, ‘Sunday Brunch’, ‘Pointless Celebrities’, ‘I Love My Country’, ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’, ‘Virtually Famous’, ‘Saturday Kitchen’, ‘Dispatches’ and ‘Through the Keyhole’, to name a few.
Rachel’s Added Works
Riley was hired by Royal Mail in 2009 to assist with advising travelers on how to make the most of their vacation currency. Her mathematical abilities and passion for football have also enabled her to assist bookmakers in establishing odds for wagering on football tournaments.
Riley aspires to be an advocate for the “nerdy” subjects of science and mathematics and frequently visits schools to excite students about the “joys” of quantum mechanics, applied mathematics, and time travel.
Rachel’s Personal Life
Rachel Riley was born in Rochford, Essex, England on January 11, 1986. She attended the private Thorpe Hall School before transferring to Southend High School for Girls, where she earned four As at A-Level. Riley then studied mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, where she earned a degree with honors in the upper second class. Speaking of her romantic history, the English beauty was previously married to one of her University of Oxford colleagues, Jamie Gilbert.
In 2009, after spending four and a half years together, the couple separated before reconciling. They were wed in 2012. The next year, however, they announced their separation. Riley has been dating her former dance partner from a reality program since 2014. Currently, the couple resides in London together.
Estimated Net Worth
Rachel Riley is an English television host with a $5 million net worth. Rachel Riley was born in January 1986 in Rochford, Essex, England. Rachel received her degree from Oriel College, Oxford, and interned at Deutsche Bank. In 2009, she replaced Carol Vorderman as co-host of Channel 4’s Countdown.