Rachel Riley
Encyclopedia
Rachel Annabelle Riley (born 11 January 1986 in Rochford
, Essex
) is an English
television presenter. Since 12 January 2009 she has been the co-host of Countdown
. She replaced Carol Vorderman
from the 60th series onwards. Jeff Stelling
is the chief presenter and Riley does the letters and numbers.
, and went on to study mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, gaining an upper second-class honours degree
, having obtained four grade A's at A-Level.
After graduating she began work as a data analyst for a website company in London. She was encouraged to apply for the Countdown position by her mother, a charity fundraiser married to a City auditor, and also by her boyfriend's mother. She did not have an ambition to be a television presenter, but decided to apply because she was interested in the numbers part of the game. Riley was chosen from more than a thousand applicants despite having no television experience. In an article for the BBC news, she stated, "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled". She began presenting Countdown alongside Jeff Stelling
from 12 January 2009. In an interview in August 2009 she revealed that it had been difficult for her to step into Vorderman's shoes, and that she had been criticised by some of Countdown' s viewers for getting some of the maths puzzles wrong.
On 26 June 2009, it was reported that Riley had been recruited by the Post Office to employ her mathematical skills to help advise holidaymakers on how to make the most of their holiday currency, after a report by the Post Office revealed that a significant number of holidaymakers fail to calculate the actual cost of goods and services when travelling abroad and often overspend their holiday budget.
Rachel also appeared in The IT Crowd
S4 E2 as herself.
often with her Salford-born father since about the age of 10, and in October 2010 she presented a programme on MUTV featuring a tour of United's training ground at Carrington
. Her favourite player is recently retired Paul Scholes.
In 2009 Rachel Riley was ranked #95 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women poll.
She met her fiance, businessman James Gilbert while they were both studying at Oxford. The couple split after four and a half years together at the end of 2009. However, they later got back together and became engaged after he proposed to her on her 25th birthday on 11 January 2011. She told viewers about the engagement on the 14 February edition of Countdown.
Rochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
television presenter. Since 12 January 2009 she has been the co-host of Countdown
Countdown (game show)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
. She replaced Carol Vorderman
Carol Vorderman
Carol Jean Vorderman MBE is a British media personality, best known for co-hosting the popular game show Countdown for 26 years from 1982 to 2008. In September 2011 she became a co-anchor of the ITV1 panel show Loose Women....
from the 60th series onwards. Jeff Stelling
Jeff Stelling
Robert Jeffrey "Jeff" Stelling is an English sports journalist and sport television presenter, of Gillette Soccer Saturday for Sky Sports and other programming for the satellite broadcaster. In January 2009 he took over as host of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown...
is the chief presenter and Riley does the letters and numbers.
Early life and career
Riley was educated at Southend High School for GirlsSouthend High School for Girls
Southend High School for Girls is a grammar school situated on Southchurch Boulevard in the east of Southend-on-Sea, England. It has students from the ages 11 through to 18 years old. The current headteacher is Mrs A.D. Clewlow.-Academics:...
, and went on to study mathematics at Oriel College, Oxford, gaining an upper second-class honours degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
, having obtained four grade A's at A-Level.
After graduating she began work as a data analyst for a website company in London. She was encouraged to apply for the Countdown position by her mother, a charity fundraiser married to a City auditor, and also by her boyfriend's mother. She did not have an ambition to be a television presenter, but decided to apply because she was interested in the numbers part of the game. Riley was chosen from more than a thousand applicants despite having no television experience. In an article for the BBC news, she stated, "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled". She began presenting Countdown alongside Jeff Stelling
Jeff Stelling
Robert Jeffrey "Jeff" Stelling is an English sports journalist and sport television presenter, of Gillette Soccer Saturday for Sky Sports and other programming for the satellite broadcaster. In January 2009 he took over as host of the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown...
from 12 January 2009. In an interview in August 2009 she revealed that it had been difficult for her to step into Vorderman's shoes, and that she had been criticised by some of Countdown
On 26 June 2009, it was reported that Riley had been recruited by the Post Office to employ her mathematical skills to help advise holidaymakers on how to make the most of their holiday currency, after a report by the Post Office revealed that a significant number of holidaymakers fail to calculate the actual cost of goods and services when travelling abroad and often overspend their holiday budget.
Rachel also appeared in The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
S4 E2 as herself.
Personal life
Riley is a keen supporter of Manchester United and has been attending games at Old TraffordOld Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
often with her Salford-born father since about the age of 10, and in October 2010 she presented a programme on MUTV featuring a tour of United's training ground at Carrington
Carrington, Greater Manchester
Carrington is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Cheshire, the village is west of Greater Manchester Urban Area, and is the site of a large gas and chemical works, which produce gases by fractional distillation of...
. Her favourite player is recently retired Paul Scholes.
In 2009 Rachel Riley was ranked #95 in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women poll.
She met her fiance, businessman James Gilbert while they were both studying at Oxford. The couple split after four and a half years together at the end of 2009. However, they later got back together and became engaged after he proposed to her on her 25th birthday on 11 January 2011. She told viewers about the engagement on the 14 February edition of Countdown.