Countdown star Rachel Riley has revealed that her time on Strictly Come Dancing was an 'out-of-body experience' and that her now-husband Pasha Kovalev became a 'shell of himself' during the show. The couple, who met when they were paired together on the BBC programme in 2013, married in Las Vegas on 28 June 2019.
Rachel's Strictly Experience
Rachel, 40, confessed that she didn't especially relish her time on the show, saying: 'As soon as the music would start, I would have a fuzzy brain and it was like an out-of-body experience.' Despite this, she treasured being partnered with Pasha, and their romance blossomed after the series concluded in December 2013.
Pasha's Grueling Schedule
Speaking on Russell Howard's Five Brilliant Things podcast last year, Rachel outlined the demanding schedule faced by Strictly professionals. 'They start doing the group dances right through to Christmas,' she said. 'He's mega-busy.' Rachel noted that during the show, Pasha was hardly ideal company: 'He's like a zombie, like a shell of a human that's got nothing to say for himself.'
Coping with the Demands
The couple found a way to cope with the heavy workload by making the most of their downtime. Rachel revealed: 'So, as soon as he wasn't working, we kind of regrouped and we kept our relationship going by travelling in between the heavy workload.'
Hidden Health Surprises
Recently, Pasha, 46, and Rachel discovered several minor 'hidden health surprises' of which they had been entirely oblivious. To increase their muscle mass, they intentionally stepped up their daily activity levels. Rachel suggested taking up squash, which has since become a weekly pastime for the pair. Pasha shared: 'We try to do it every week, at least once a week, we've been successful so far.'
Still Dancing
The dancer revealed he had never held a squash racket before joining Rachel in the sport, but believes it's excellent for staying fit and supporting heart health. Pasha noted that Rachel takes even more pleasure from their games as she invariably emerges victorious. Dancing, which initially brought them together, remains a core part of their relationship, with the couple still enjoying the chance to display their talents during date nights.
