Strictly Come Dancing star Pasha Kovalev, 39, and Countdown star Rachel Riley, 33, eloped on Friday in a secret ceremony in Las Vegas. Now his former celebrity dance partner Ashley Roberts, 37, has told Amanda Holden, 48, and Jamie Theakston, 48, on Heart Radio how she had spoken with the Russian born dancer beforehand, who simply said he was going on holiday. As the showbiz reporter told listeners the exciting news, her co-star Jamie asked: “Wasn’t he your dance partner? Wasn’t it Ash and Pash?” To which Ashley replied: “Yes it was Ash and Pash – Pashley. We were partnered up on Strictly and he came to the opening of Waitress.”
Pasha and Ashley were paired up on the show last year and have been friends ever since.
The former Pussycat Doll continued: “He [Pasha] said to me, ‘Oh I’ve got to go I’m travelling’.
“Little did I know he was going off to get married.”
Amanda interjected: “Vegas baby.”
The pair made it to the finals of Strictly Come Dancing last year but lost out on the coveted Glitterball trophy to Stacey Dooley, 32, and Kevin Clifton, 36.
Since the show’s airing, the former Pussycat Doll has found romance with Strictly professional Giovanni Pernice, 28, after the pair met on the show.
Ashley’s revelation comes just hours after Rachel took to Instagram and announced she and Pasha had got hitched overseas.
The photo showed the blonde beauty sporting a white and red patterned dress as she held a bouquet of roses, whilst the professional dancer looked chic in cream trousers and a smart jacket.
The Countdown beauty wrote in view of her 397,000 Instagram followers: “Introducing the new Mr and Mrs Kovalev. We both said yes!”
Fans and celebrity pals rushed to comment on the post as they shared congratulatory messages.
Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones, 30, gushed: “Congratulations!” while her co-star Janette Manrara, 35, said: “Woo Hoo!!! Congrats you beautiful people!”
One person said: “Congratulations may your family have a long and happy future.”
While another fan commented: “So happy for you both! And welcome to the #wedinvegas club.”
Records from Clark County, the area of Nevada which includes Las Vegas, show the pair were wed on Friday.
The couple first met when Rachel joined the celebrity line-up on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2013 and confirmed their relationship the following year.
The newlyweds will also have more reason to celebrate as they welcome their first child to their family which is due in December.