Rachel Riley has jokingly suggested she risks being "cancelled" after poking fun at Countdown host Colin Murray and attempting a Northern Irish accent. Her comments emerged during a conversation with Anne-Marie Wallace about her position as Countdown's resident numbers expert.
She has occupied the role since the age of just 22, stepping in for long-serving favourite Carol Vorderman in 2009. Rachel, now 40, features on the Channel 4 puzzle programme alongside lexicographer Susie Dent and host Colin Murray, who assumed the presenting duties in 2023. She also participates in the Jimmy Carr-fronted comedy spin-off, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Long-time viewer and fan
Speaking to Anne-Marie earlier this month on BBC Radio Ulster, Rachel revealed that she had been a viewer of the programme since childhood. The star acknowledged she could happily spend "all day, every day" tackling the numbers round.
She said: "And I think that's, you know, our audience...we're so lucky that we've had people coming on as contestants now that used to watch it with their grandparents. And now they're introducing their kids to letters and numbers for the first time from Countdown."
"So we're just so lucky to be a part of this national institution, and, like, you say, 8 Out of 10 Cats is going strong and bringing it to a new audience."
Social media and Colin Murray
Rachel also confessed she was grateful social media "wasn't around" when she first secured the job, saying it would have been "brutal" and that it is a "completely different landscape" now in comparison to when she started working on TV.
Anne-Marie then turned her focus to host Colin Murray, who is originally from Dundonald, County Down. She described Colin as a "Countdown nerd" who had landed his "dream job". Rachel responded: "He has, and he is like a puppy with endless energy that doesn't stop. And he not only presents, but he's playing along with every letter, every numbers round. He's goading the contestants.
"I mean, he would just, if he could, he would be the presenter, and the mathematician, and the lexicographer, and both contestants at the same time because he's that much of a Countdown geek."
Accent attempt and reaction
The former Strictly Come Dancing star continued: "But he can't say 'mirror'. There are a few words that he just..." Rachel then dissolved into laughter, as Anne-Marie acknowledged that people struggled to say the word "over here". Rachel went on to offer another example, "power shower".
When asked if she could do a Northern Irish accent herself, Rachel gave it a go: "Power shower", before the pair broke into laughter. Rachel quipped: "Am I cancelled now?" But Anne-Marie was quick to reassure her she had nothing to worry about. She replied: "No, not at all, love. I think that's an excellent Northern Irish accent."
Catch Countdown on Channel 4 today (August 14), from 2.10pm to 3pm and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown from 9pm.
