Rachel Riley took over from Carol Vorderman, who had been on Countdown since it started in 1982, in front of the famous numbers board in 2009. It came just months after the presenter finished Oxford University after four years, where she studied mathematics. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show – set to air this evening – the 33-year-old revealed just how she bagged the coveted role on the Channel 4 favourite. The former Strictly Come Dancing regular said she played up to her Essex roots as well as later discussing her romance with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev.
“I did four years at Oxford,” Rachel started. “And as I finished they were advertising for the Countdown job and I used to watch it as a kid…
“I finished uni in the June, over the summer I was applying for loads of grad jobs [with big application forms] and Countdown wanted 50 words and a photo.”
She then stated: “They were talking about big shoes to fill and so I said, ‘I’m a maths geek, I love the show, I’m an Essex girl so why not fill them with some white stilettos’.”
Rachel quickly won over the viewing public and this year she will mark her 10-year anniversary on the daytime hit.
She has since gone on to appear in spin-off 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, as well as the likes of The Gadget Show, Friday Night Football and Strictly.
Her latest interview saw her joined on the sofa by Jack Whitehall, Lizzo, Ralph Fiennes and Crufts 2019 winner, Dylan the Villain.
Rachel went on to discuss how she is learning Russian after dating Pasha, 39, since 2014.
She said: “I’m doing it with an online app, it’s really homemade with Clip Art from the nineties to explain stuff. It teaches you how kids learn.
“My spelling is absolutely appalling but you pick it up as you go. The first thing I learnt was [the Russian for] ‘Give me a kiss’ and then from the app you learn things like ‘I open the window with a crowbar.’”
The beauty said it is “disconcerting” when her partner, his friends and family are all speaking away in their native language and she has “no idea”.
Rachel added: “We go on holiday with them and his mum and his brother as well. The first time I met the boys, I spoke no Russian at all.
“… A bunch of thirty-something boys talking and giggling and drinking and I have no idea what they’re talking about.”
She wowed in a red and black dress for the primetime chat show, which saw her tease a glimpse of her cleavage thanks to a sheer panel at the front.
The number fell to just above her ankle and came complete with a lace trim and capped sleeves.
Meanwhile, earlier this week Rachel Riley revealed which “megastar” licked her, saying: “He’s gorgeous.”
The Jonathan Ross Show airs tonight at 9.30pm on ITV, while Countdown continues weekdays at 2.10pm on Channel 4.