Countdown star feels jealous
COUNTDOWN’S Rachel Riley cannot bear to watch boyfriend Pasha Kovalev on Strictly Come Dancing.
The maths whizz, 32, appeared on the hit BBC One show in 2013 and soon after split from husband Jamie Gilbert after falling in love with her professional dance partner Pasha.
And while she does not believe in the show’s ‘curse’, about contestants falling Rachel’s fear for their dance buddies, she admits she does not like to see Pasha holding another woman.
Asked about watching the hit show, Rachel said: “It’s left its mark. It just makes me feel nervous – so I make myself busy when it’s on. I leave Pasha to it.”
He is among the favourites to win this year as he is with ex-pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, an experienced dancer. Speaking to the Radio Times, Rachel said Ashley and Pasha she and Pasha enjoy Bake Off. Rachel added: “We’re both vegan so we loved vegan week.”
Meanwhile, six of the mostloved Strictly contestants from previous series are returning for a Christmas Day special.
The women are Anita Rani, Ann Widdecombe and Caroline Flack and the men are Aston Merrygold, Jake Wood and Michael Vaughan.
Michael joked: “Having not danced at all since 2012 I can’t be any worse than then.”