Rachel Riley became emotional as she reflected on how a recent experience with her own children brought back memories of her own formative years. The Countdown revealed how a family trip to Disneyland Paris brought back memories of the Lion King, the first film to reduce her to tears.
Recalling her own early experiences, Rachel told the Times about the profound impact the Lion King had on her: “I remember my grandma taking us to the ABC cinema in Southend to see The Lion King, and I still love all the Disney films.”
Decades on from when she first watched the iconic movie, Rachel became emotional again as she relived her youth through her children.
She continued: “I took my kids to Disneyland Paris for the first time recently, and it’s so nostalgic looking at your youth through new eyes. Why does this music make me feel so emotional? Because it takes you back.”
Rachel, 39, has two children – Maven, five, and Noa, three – with husband Pasha Kovalev, who she met while competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
After growing up in the Thorpe Bay area of Southend-on-Sea, Rachel’s exceptional maths ability saw her earn a place at the University of Oxford in 2004. After time spent working as a data analyst for a web design company, she went on to become one of the most famous faces on TV when she replaced Carol Vorderman on Countdown in 2009.
Rachel has since become a household name and has gone on to appear in a variety of other popular shows including Strictly Come Dancing where she was partnered alongside future husband Pasha in 2013.
After making it to the sixth week of the show, the couple were eliminated before Abbey Clancy and Aljaž Škorjanec won the coveted Glitterball.
After appearing together on the show, it wasn’t long before their relationship blossomed and they were confirmed to be dating. They have since got married and had two daughters together.
In 2012 Countdown joined forces with the much-loved comedy panel show, 8 Out of 10 Cats, to form the mash-up 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Comedian Jimmy Carr presents the show while Rachel Riley takes up her usual Countdown role of mathematician with Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Rachel will be back on our screens this evening as she is set to take up her regular spot as the resident mathematician on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. In this evening’s episode Joe Wilkinson and Josh Widdicombe take on Rhod Gilbert and Thaniya Moore.
Catch 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown when it returns this evening (Friday, August 1) at 9 pm on Channel 4.