The Countdown presenter, 33, was married to Jamie Gilbert for 16 months before it was confirmed they had parted ways while she was competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013. Speaking to Alastair Campbell, 61, for British GQ, Rachel Riley spoke out about the breakdown of her marriage, reiterating that her relationship with her Strictly partner and now boyfriend Pasha Kovalev, 39, hadn’t started until after her divorce. “At that time, I was doing Countdown and The Gadget Show, so I was living in Essex, I was filming in Birmingham and in Salford, and then filming Strictly in Borehamwood, with a bit of It Takes Two in London,” she explained. “I was getting three hours’ sleep a night, trying to fit in all these things. Related articles Rachel Riley: Star reveals when she first fell for Pasha Kovalev Rachel Riley talks feeling like 'the least sexy person' with Pasha “All you want to do at that time is the dancing because you know you’ve got to do this thing in a few days,” she added. When Alastair asked whether she felt Strictly had contributed to the demise of her marriage, Rachel replied: “No… “I’m still friends with my ex-husband,” she said thoughtfully. “He’s great, he’s a brilliant guy. “We were together since I was 19 and it wasn’t right. “What Strictly did was gave me distance — because I was away from home in Birmingham, Salford, Borehamwood — and it was the emotional distance that I needed to… break away,” she added. “He’s a lovely guy but… things…” the Countdown favourite trailed off. Rachel Riley: Countdown star opened up on her split from ex-husband Jamie Gilbert (Image: GETTY • ITV) “And then this Russian dancer came along!” Alastair quipped. “I love my Russian dancer,” Rachel replied fondly. Asked when she realised her bond with Pasha was “more than a dance relationship”, the presented said: “Not for a long time. Because I was married when we did Strictly.” “These things happen…” came the interviewer’s loaded reply. “Yeah, yeah,” she responded, waving her hand dismissively. Related articles Rachel Riley Twitter: Countdown recalls most ‘embarrassing’ moment Rachel Riley blasts Jeremy Corbyn for 'helping anti-Semitism' Rachel Riley: Countdown started dating Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev after her divorce (Image: GETTY) “You’re literally just focused on the dance. you’ve got from Sunday to Saturday to learn a brand new dance.” Rachel and Pasha went public with their relationship the year after her split from her husband. In a previous interview with The Daily Express, she revealed she’s in no hurry to tie the knot again. “I don’t worry about getting married or whether he is taking a long time in the morning or whether he has done the dishes,” she said. “That does not really bother me in the long term. I feel settled.”All rights reserved for this news site express.co.uk and under his responsibility