Rachel Riley shares an emotional IWD tribute

‘A sombre International Women’s Day today’: Rachel Riley posts snap with daughters and husband Pasha Kovalev as Countdown star stands in solidarity with women of Ukraine

Rachel Riley penned an emotional International Women’s Day tribute on Tuesday as the Countdown star stood in solidarity with the women of Ukraine. 

The mathematician, 36, took to her Instagram account to share her sympathy for the women and girls who are caught up in the country’s war against Russia with a sweet family picture.  

Rachel, who is the mother of two girls, recently returned to Countdown following her maternity leave after welcoming baby daughter Noa to the world with husband Pasha Kovalev, 42, in November.

Touching: Rachel Riley penned an emotional International Women’s Day tribute on Tuesday as the Countdown star stands in solidarity with the women of Ukraine 

She shares the newborn with Strictly Come Dancing star husband Pasha, with the couple also being parents to another daughter Maven, two.  

She captioned the heartfelt post:  ‘A sombre International Women’s Day today. 

‘Big responsibility raising girls. Every time we pack up what feels like half our belongings take with us to Manchester to look after two little ones for 3 days filming, I’m thinking of the women who’ve had to pack up their lives into their car, or bags, say goodbye to their men, and leave everything for who knows how long. 

‘We’re so lucky to be living in peace with our family in tact.’  

TV star: Rachel, who is the mother of two girls, recently returned to Countdown following her maternity leave

Tribute: The mathematician, 36, took to her Instagram account to share her sympathy for the women and girls who are caught up in the country’s war against Russia

She concluded: ‘Thinking of the millions who aren’t and trying to do the small things we can to help.’

Rachel’s touching tribute comes as it was reported last year that she was at loggerheads with her Countdown colleague Anne Robinson and the show’s lexicographer Susie Dent, 56, with an ‘uncomfortable atmosphere’ erupting since Anne took on the role of fronting the show. 

Staff at Media City claimed that off-camera, there was tension over Anne’s ‘rather grand ways’, which earned her the nickname ‘Queen Anne’.

In October Anne reportedly turned off Rachel’s microphone on set after becoming irritated by her small talk.  

Addressing it: Anne recently broke her silence on her ‘feud’ with Rachel and praised the maths whizz for her ‘adding and subtracting’ 

According to The Sun Anne became fed up of listening to Rachel chatting to contestants ahead of going on air, turning up at the last minute and being on her phone too much.  

Rachel then reportedly told crew that she ‘completely disagreed’ with being silenced after the incident.

A source told the publication: ‘It’s safe to say there’s no love lost. Anne is famously known for two things: her dislike of noise and time-keeping. She’ll tolerate neither.  

‘Anne also has tinnitus and cannot bear excess sound. Rachel, with her big heels and even bigger personality, can be quite loud on set. Rachel used to chat to contestants before every show, and Anne found it hugely distracting.  

‘She felt she couldn’t do her job properly, or bond with the contestants to help them to relax, before the cameras started rolling.

‘The tension was palpable. Anne finds the whole thing hilarious.’

Compliments: The Countdown host was nothing but complimentary of her colleagues during a recent interview, describing Rachel and Susie Dent as ‘brilliant’ 

Representatives for Anne, Rachel and Channel 4 were contacted for a comment at the time.  

Asked directly about the feud, Anne, who took over from Nick Hewer on the Channel 4 game show in June, said: ‘They’re brilliant – both of them actually. Every time I’m astonished how she [Rachel] does that adding up and subtracting – just seconds, absolutely seconds, amazing.’

Anne added: ‘I hope I’m always described as difficult, awkward, tricky, impatient, menopausal, any sort of pejorative, grumpy.’  

Sweet: Rachel gave birth to daughter Noa in November, her second child with dancer Pasha Kovalev who she met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013

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