The Countdown star joked that her drink of choice on a night out in Dublin was ‘practically a hate crime’ to some of her fellow drinkers
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor
13:00, 16 Jan 2026
Rachel Riley joked that her drink choice on a night out in Dublin offended locals(Image: (Image: Getty))
Rachel Riley has jokingly revealed that she once committed what she described as a “hate crime” whilst on a night out in Dublin with a Countdown colleague. The 40-year-old has been a fixture on the popular Channel 4 programme since 2009, when she took over from Carol Vorderman as the mathematics expert.
Riley recalls being “thrilled” to secure the position shortly after completing her studies at the University of Oxford. She has since described the Countdown role as the “only cool maths job around”.
During her time on the programme, Riley has developed a strong friendship with Susie Dent, who hosts the Dictionary Corner segment. Riley recounts that she was with Dent when she fears she may have made a social blunder during an evening out in Dublin.
The pair were spotted enjoying a Black Velvet cocktail, which combines Guinness with sparkling wine. Speaking on the Shoot Your Shot podcast, Riley explained: “It’s amazing. Guinness I like, but it is quite heavy, so the Prosecco or the Champagne really livens it up.”
She added: “I went to Dublin with Susie Dent once, we did a little girls trip, and we were in a bar in Dublin having black velvets and it was basically a hate crime to some people. It was like a proper Marmite moment, will they love us, will they appreciate us, but it’s so good.”
Rachel appears on Countdown with Susie Dent and Colin Murray(Image: Channel 4)
Riley reveals she first tried the cocktail at a London restaurant whilst on her initial date with Strictly Come Dancing’s Pasha Kovalev. The duo appeared on the show together in 2013.
The duo were sent home in fifth place whilst model Abbey Clancy and professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec claimed the coveted Glitterball Trophy. Rachel and Pasha confirmed their romance in December 2013.
The couple exchanged vows in Las Vegas in June 2019 and are now proud parents to two daughters, Maven and Noa.
Pasha’s final Strictly appearance came in 2018, when he reached the final with former Pussycat Dolls member Ashley Roberts. In an interview with Heat magazine, Pasha revealed it felt like the “right moment” to step away from his Strictly journey.
Rachel and Pasha married in 2019(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty I)
“It was time to move on and I don’t regret it,” the 45-year-old said. He described the “hardest thing” about his role as a professional on the programme as “saying goodbye” to each celebrity partner.
He continued: “Part of your heart stays with that person, then the next year you have to find energy and more love to give to the next person.
“My heart was torn into pieces and given away to random people, so I had to make one of them my wife. Rachel said it was part of her Strictly contract.”
Rachel returns to television this afternoon (January 16) at 2.10pm presenting Countdown alongside Colin Murray on Channel 4, before appearing on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown at 9pm on the same channel.