As she prepares to swim with deadly predators in Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, Rachel Riley has opened up about the toll that husband Pasha Kovalev’s Strictly workload took on their relationship
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev(Image: Dave Benett, Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Rachel Riley, the mathematical genius of Channel 4’s Countdown, has opened up about her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, confessing that she didn’t quite relish the experience on the popular BBC programme.
She shared: “As soon as the music would start, I would have a fuzzy brain and it was like an out-of-body experience.” However, Rachel did enjoy one aspect of Strictly – being partnered with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev.
Their romance blossomed following the show, with the couple announcing their relationship shortly after the series concluded in December 2013. They exchanged vows in a Las Vegas ceremony on June 28, 2019.
Rachel was paired with Pasha in 2013(Image: PA)
Having witnessed firsthand the demands placed on Pasha, Rachel gained insight into the reasons behind his departure from Strictly just months before they married.
On Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things podcast earlier this year, she discussed the gruelling schedule faced by Strictly Pros like Pasha: “They start doing the group dances right through to Christmas,” she remarked. “He’s mega-busy.”
Rachel also noted that during his Strictly stint, Pasha wasn’t exactly great company: “He’s like a zombie, like a shell of a human that’s got nothing to say for himself.”
The couple hit it off and later married(Image: PA)
However, they found a way to cope with the stress, as Rachel revealed they made the most of their downtime: “So, as soon as he wasn’t working, we kind of regrouped and we kept our relationship going by travelling in between the heavy workload.”
After undergoing health assessments, Pasha, 45, and Rachel, 39, discovered a few minor “hidden health surprises” that they were previously unaware of.
To boost their muscle mass, they’ve consciously increased their daily physical activity. Rachel suggested taking up squash, which has now become a weekly activity for the pair.
Pasha shared: “We try to do it every week, at least once a week, we’ve been successful so far.”
Rachel has signed up for the terrifying shark challenge(Image: ITV)
The dancer revealed he had never played squash before joining Rachel in the sport, but finds it excellent for staying active and keeping the heart healthy.
Pasha added that Rachel gets even more pleasure from their games as she consistently comes out on top.
Dancing, which initially brought them together, remains an integral part of their bond, with the couple still enjoying showing off their moves on their date nights.
Rachel has also added swimming to her fitness routine, participating in the new show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, where she takes the plunge with sharks off the coast of Bimini in the Bahamas.
Rachel, with comedians Ross noble and Lenny Henry, came face to face with a deadly stingray(Image: ITV)
Rachel described the experience to the Daily Mail: “I did feel fear at seeing a shark up close for the first time,” explaining how a bull shark approached the protective cage. “My heart was racing but I didn’t freak out.”
She elaborated: “We later learned that every kind of shark has a different personality. The bull shark is a sneaky f*****. The experts don’t trust them.”
Although apprehensive about diving with these formidable predators, Rachel confessed she found it exhilarating, admitting: “It was glorious. There’s a feeling of euphoria. You can really feel the chemical reaction in your body.”
Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters airs on Monday night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.