Rachel Riley admits career changing Countdown role has given her 'amazing opportunities'

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Good fortune has followed Rachel Riley following her debut as Carol Vorderman’s Countdown successor in 2009 – but a career in television was the last thing on her mind when she applied for the position shortly after leaving university.
The 28-year-old brainbox has become a household name thanks to her prominent role on the Channel 4 weekday show, but her application was more of an afterthought than a concerted effort to pursue a career in television.
‘I only applied for Countdown as a bit of a laugh, while applying for lots of other graduate jobs,’ she told Saturday magazine. ‘I’ve had some amazing opportunities and I’ve loved every minute.’

Success: Rachel Riley's career has enjoyed an upward curve following her first appearance on Channel 4 show Countdown in 2009

Those opportunities include a separate hosting role on The Gadget Show and a place on the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing, during which she was paired with Latin ballroom specialist Pasha Kovalev.
The dance partners made it all the way to week six before losing the dance-off to eventual Glitter-Ball winners Abbey Clancy and Aljaz Skorjanec.

‘It was such a shame and it felt too soon,’ she said. ‘I’d put my heart and soul into the whole experience. But at least I can say I went out to the winner.’ 

Good times: Rachel was an Oxford University graduate when she applied for a presenting role on Countdown

The chance to appear on the show would never have happened were it not for her Countdown application, submitted shortly after she graduated from Oxford University with an upper second-class honours degree in Mathematics.
With her studies over, Riley found herself in London, where she took an unfulfilling job as a data analyst with a price comparison website before her fortunes radically changed.
‘Before Countdown, I’d never even met anyone who was on TV,’ she said. ‘I loved maths, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. 

Sassy: The 28-year-old reached week six of Strictly Come Dancing with Latin ballroom specialist Pasha Kovalev

‘I’ve had to learn quickly and I’m lucky to have been surrounded by really experienced teams on all the shows I’ve worked on.’
But while the last few years have brought plenty of highs, there was a significant low in November when she announced her year-old marriage to university sweetheart Jamie Gilbert was over.
The couple married in the lavish surrounds of Hengrave Hall, Bury-St.Edmonds in 2012 – a year after romantic Jamie proposed on her 25th birthday. 

All over: Rachel announced the end of her marriage to university sweetheart Jamie Gilbert last November