Rachel Riley candidly discussed the unique challenges posed by her and Pasha Kovalev’s demanding schedules, which currently leave them with limited time for each other. The pair originally met when they were partnered on the popular show, Strictly Come Dancing, back in 2013. At 40, the Countdown presenter had just announced her separation from her then-husband, Jamie Gilbert, shortly after being eliminated from the show. She went public with her relationship with Pasha the following year.
In 2019, Rachel and Pasha, now 46, celebrated their union with marriage and have since become proud parents to two daughters, Maven, six, and Noa, four. In a recent interview, Rachel revealed that the rigors of their careers often force them to spend less time together than they prefer. Describing their interactions as akin to “ships passing in the night,” she noted that Pasha is gearing up for his Legends of the Dancefloor Tour, joining forces with fellow former Strictly professionals Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Vincent Simone, and Ian Waite. Rachel strategically tries to complete her work duties in advance, ensuring one of them remains at home to look after their children.
She elaborated, “So he’s about to go on tour with the boys, so there’s five of them going around the country from September through to the middle of November.
“Summer often in this industry is a bit quieter. My work’s kind of like screeched up, to try and get as much done before he goes away so that most of the time one of us is home. But it’s not always possible, unfortunately.”
In her conversation with the Daily Mail, Rachel further reflected on the importance of setting a positive example for their children, highlighting the value of having individual pursuits and managing finances well. “I think it’s good for the kids to have role models where you go out to work and you’ve got your own life as well and trying to teach them about the value of money, etc.”
“But we definitely prefer it if one of us is at home so often ships that pass in the night because I try and arrange work when he’s not there and the other way around.”
Releasing a joint statement confirming their separation, the professional dancers said: “We’re taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges. James moved out of the family home some time ago. This has been an incredibly painful and emotional journey for us both and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision.
James admitted his mental health “hasn’t been in a good place for quite some time”, adding: “I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to focus on getting myself into a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella. Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives.”