COUNTDOWN brainbox Rachel Riley has split from her husband after just 16
months.
The 27-year-old, who partnered Pasha Kovalev in Strictly Come Dancing, shocked
pals by breaking up with Jamie Gilbert who is said to be “devastated beyond
belief” by split.
Gilbert, 31, is “distraught and stunned”, a family friend added last night.
“He has no idea where this has come from. Rachel just told him they had grown
apart.”
Riley announced their marriage was over less than a month after she was voted
off Strictly, where she danced with Russian hunk Pasha Kovalev.
There is no suggestion anyone else is involved in the split.
A source said last night: “They are separated. Rachel is away filming much of
the time. Jamie’s stuff is still at the house so he hasn’t technically moved
out.”
Jamie and Rachel met at Oxford University and married in August last year.
They had a home together in Southend, Essex.
They had previously split in 2009 after four years together. But they
rekindled the relationship when Jamie — who works in his dad’s computer firm
— proposed on Rachel’s 25th birthday in January 2011.
She revealed the engagement later that month on Countdown, where Rachel has
built a massive fan base for her maths skills — and sexy outfits.
The source added: “The whole family is very upset. They adore Rachel and
everyone believed she and Jamie would start a family.
“They obviously fell in love before she was famous and for whatever reason,
she now doesn’t feel they have a future together.”
Rachel’s fame has rocketed since her appearances in Strictly Come Dancing,
where she reached week six before getting the boot.
The maths graduate co-presents The Gadget Show on Channel 5, as well as her
£100,000-a-year role in cult sums and letters game Countdown.
A spokeswoman for Rachel declined to comment last night.
Maths expert will be hit for 6
By COLIN ROBERTSON, TV Editor
GORGEOUS Rachel Riley had it all — brains, beauty, a fabulous career and a
happy marriage.
Until now.
Her split from university sweetheart Jamie after just over a year will stun
her growing army of fans.
She is not your usual showbiz glamour girl, flitting from one man-about-town
to another.
For all her fame, she really is the girl next door.
She craved a happy family life more than a dazzling career.
Whatever the reasons for their split, it will have knocked the maths ace for
six.
Curse of Strictly
STRICTLY has been blamed for breaking up stars’ relationships.
In 2009 ex-boxer Joe Calzaghe dumped lover Jo-Emma Larvin for dance partner
Kristina Rihanoff.
The dancer also had an affair with I’m A Celebrity’s Vincent Simone in 2008,
causing his pregnant girlfriend Susan Duddy to leave him.
In 2007, Matt Di Angelo dated pro dancer Flavia Cacace who was then Simone’s
girlfriend. Flavia is due to wed actor Jimmy Mistry, also a Strictly
partner.
