Rachel Riley's Brutally Honest Strictly Come Dancing Admission
Countdown mathematics expert Rachel Riley has delivered a strikingly candid assessment of her time on Strictly Come Dancing, nearly thirteen years after her appearance on the BBC's flagship dance competition. The television presenter, who participated in the show's eleventh series back in 2013, offered a refreshingly honest perspective that contrasts sharply with the typical narrative surrounding celebrity contestants.
'Absolutely Not' to Learning Dance Moves
During a recent appearance on the Shoot Your Shot podcast, Riley was asked directly whether she had actually learned to dance during her Strictly experience. Her response was characteristically blunt and unequivocal. "Absolutely not. No, you learn how to hang on, you don't have enough time to learn how to dance and I'd never danced," she revealed with trademark honesty.
The presenter elaborated on her reasoning for joining the show despite her lack of dance background. "That's why I went into it because you want to learn a skill and it is fun," she explained, highlighting the entertainment value rather than any serious dance education she might have received.
The Gruelling Reality Behind the Glitterball
Riley provided insight into the demanding schedule that prevented genuine dance learning during her Strictly stint. "You have a week from start to finish and you have to do It Takes Two, you have to do rehearsals, you have to do some sort of filming where you pretend that squash helps you learn to dance, and you have to do all kinds of things that fit in," she detailed, painting a picture of the intense time constraints contestants face.
Her logistical challenges were compounded by geographical complications. Riley explained that much of her time during Strictly was spent split between her home in Essex, her Countdown commitments in Manchester, and her job on The Gadget Show in Birmingham, creating a punishing travel schedule that left little room for focused dance practice.
From Strictly Partners to Life Partners
Despite her self-deprecating assessment of her dancing abilities, Riley's Strictly experience yielded significant personal rewards. Partnered with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev during the 2013 series, the pair announced their relationship shortly after the show concluded. They married in June 2019 and have since welcomed two daughters, Maven and Noa, into their family.
Riley did acknowledge that she and Kovalev have enjoyed dancing together in more relaxed settings during their travels. "We have danced, Pasha and I when we go travelling, which we love, we've danced in Cannes, we've danced in Bali, we've danced in LA, Colombia, everywhere you go there's a salsa club," she shared, suggesting that her dance enjoyment comes from informal, recreational contexts rather than structured competition.
Professional Commitments and Television Return
Riley has maintained her position as the mathematics expert on Channel 4's Countdown since 2009, when she succeeded Carol Vorderman in the role. She has previously described the position as "the only cool maths job around" and continues to present the programme alongside Colin Murray.
Her television presence extends beyond the daytime quiz show, with regular appearances on the comedy spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, demonstrating her versatility across different television formats.
Pasha Kovalev's Strictly Departure
Riley's husband Pasha Kovalev concluded his Strictly Come Dancing journey in 2018, reaching the final with former Pussycat Dolls member Ashley Roberts before deciding to step away from the programme. In an interview with Heat magazine, the professional dancer explained that it felt like the "right moment" to move on from his Strictly chapter.
Kovalev described the emotional toll of the competition format, noting that "the hardest thing" about his role was saying goodbye to each celebrity partner. "Part of your heart stays with that person, then the next year you have to find energy and more love to give to the next person," he reflected, offering insight into the professional dancer's perspective that complements his wife's celebrity contestant experience.
Riley's refreshingly honest assessment provides a counterpoint to the typical Strictly narrative, reminding audiences that behind the glitter and glamour lies a demanding production schedule that leaves little room for genuine skill acquisition for complete beginners. Her admission that she essentially learned to "hang on" rather than master dance techniques offers a unique perspective on one of British television's most beloved entertainment formats.
