Countdown star Rachel Riley has opened up on the first film that ever made her cry, as she admitted that she was left in tears after watching the Lion King with her children
TV presenter Rachel Riley was moved to tears as she reminisced about how a recent experience with her own children stirred up memories of her childhood. The Countdown star revealed that a family trip to Disneyland Paris evoked memories of the Lion King, the first film that ever made her cry.
Speaking to the Times, Rachel recalled how the Lion King had brought her to tears: “I remember my grandma taking us to the ABC cinema in Southend to see The Lion King, and I still love all the Disney films.”
Years after she first saw the iconic film, Rachel found herself emotional once more as she experienced her childhood again through her children.
She told the publication: “I took my kids to Disneyland Paris for the first time recently, and it’s so nostalgic looking at your youth through new eyes. Why does this music make me feel so emotional? Because it takes you back.”
Rachel, 39, shares two children – Maven, five, and Noa, three – with her husband Pasha Kovalev, who she met while competing in Strictly Come Dancing.
Raised in the Thorpe Bay area of Southend-on-Sea, Rachel’s exceptional maths skills earned her a place at the University of Oxford in 2004. After working as a data analyst for a web design firm, she became one of the most recognisable faces on television when she took over from Carol Vorderman on Countdown in 2009.
Rachel has since become a well-known figure, appearing on various popular shows including Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with her future husband Pasha in 2013.
Despite being eliminated in the sixth week of the show, before Abbey Clancy and Aljaž Škorjanec took home the coveted Glitterball, Rachel and Pasha’s relationship blossomed. After their stint on the show, their relationship was soon confirmed and they have since married and had two daughters.
In 2012, Countdown collaborated with the beloved comedy panel show, 8 Out of 10 Cats, to create the hybrid show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Comedian Jimmy Carr hosts the show, with Rachel Riley reprising her usual Countdown role as mathematician, alongside Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.
Rachel will return to our screens tonight, resuming her regular role as the resident mathematician on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. In tonight’s episode, Joe Wilkinson and Josh Widdicombe face off against Rhod Gilbert and Thaniya Moore.
Catch 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown when it returns this evening (Friday, August 1) at 9pm on Channel 4.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
