Rachel Riley has revealed that she has nearly paid off her mortgage thanks to her Countdown gig. 

The maths graduate and TV presenter, 39, has been in charge of the number on Countdown since 2009 – but it was revealed last month she is being temporarily replaced.

And thanks to her high profile presenting gig, which saw her replace show OG Carol Vorderman, Rachel is close to financial independence. 

Rachel has been married to former Strictly pro dancer Pasha Kovalev, who she met on the show, since 2019 and the couple have two children.  

Speaking to The i, Rachel revealed her work on TV has meant she is close to paying off the mortgage on the home she and Pasha share – but admitted her salary when she first joined Countdown ‘wasn’t huge’.

She also gushed over her life with husband Pasha, as she praised him for being ‘solid’ and declared she is ‘so lucky’ to have him. 

Rachel Riley has revealed to The i that she has nearly paid off her mortgage thanks to her Countdown gig

Speaking to The i, Rachel revealed her work on TV has meant she is close to paying off the mortgage on the home she and Pasha Kovalev share (Seen in 2016)

‘Pasha is really solid,’ she said. ‘I’m so lucky. We respect each other. We find each other interesting. We make each other laugh and we talk about all sort of different things. 

‘We come from completely different backgrounds, so we have a different outlook, and we bounce off each other.’

Speaking about how her TV gigs have helped her financially, Rachel added: ‘My Countdown salary wasn’t huge to start with. I’ve built up my career as it’s gone on. 

‘I’ve nearly paid off my mortgage, which for me is a really grounding thing. We’re in a really fortunate position.

‘Sometimes an offer comes in and it doesn’t even get to the money phase, because I’m just like, “I don’t want to know. That’s just not for me at the moment,” but if people want to offer me crazy amounts of money, they can go ahead as we’re looking at mortgages for bigger properties and stamp duty, so I’m open to all offers. Not Indecent Proposal type offers though.’

Rachel and Pasha met when they were paired together on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. 

Rachel’s confession comes a week after she looked incredible in a series of ʙικιɴι-clad snaps as she shared an insight into her first nature trip with Pasha. 

In celebration of World Wildlife Day, the TV presenter uploaded some pH๏τos from Brazil in 2016, with the Strictly Come Dancing star, 45.

The maths graduate and TV presenter, 39, has been in charge of the number on Countdown since 2009 – but it was revealed last month she is being temporarily replaced

Rachel has been married to former Strictly pro dancer Pasha Kovalev, who she met on the show, since 2019 and the couple have two children

She also gushed over her life with husband Pasha, as she praised him for being ‘solid’ and declared she is ‘so lucky’ to have him (Seen on Thursday)

The couple could be seen enjoying a bike ride, hiking, scuba diving and kayaking after visiting a conservation project in the world’s largest wetlands. 

Rachel wrote: ‘It’s World Wildlife Day today, which gives me a good excuse to post this pic taken just as Pash was getting bitten by ants when we were in India a few years back! 

‘You’re supposed to tell wildlife conservation success stories today, so it made me think of our first nature trip together, which sparked a whole load of others and is pretty much our favourite way to spend our time.

‘Back in 2016 we went to Brazil, and one of the highlights was visiting the Onçafari jaguar conservation project in the world’s largest wetlands – The Pantanal.’ 

Rachel continued: ‘It was in its infancy then, conservationists had visited Africa, and brought techniques back like staking (already killed in nature) prey out in open spaces vs dense forest. 

‘So, tourists have more chance of spotting cats returning to the carcᴀss to eat at nightfall, in order to boost eco tourism, collecting data showing jags weren’t the culprits eating cattle, and generally that jaguars are more valuable alive than ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

Rachel’s confession comes a week after she looked incredible in a series of ʙικιɴι-clad snaps as she shared an insight into her first nature trip with Pasha 

‘As is so much in life, the financial arguments often have more sway than anything else.

‘Since then we’ve been to The Galapagos, Napo Valley in the Amazon Basin, Sri Lanka, India, The Maldives and can honestly say wildlife trips are where our happiest memories are. 

‘Hopefully more trips to follow when the kids are a bit bigger! (Any suggestions on where and when with them for future are much appreciated!)

‘PS sorry for the terrible home videos at the end (Pantanal capybaras, jaguar, giant anteater), I’ve definitely not missed my calling as a wildlife camerawoman but happy memories nonetheless!’