Rachel Riley#Antisemitism campaign

{{anchor|Early life|Early career}}

Riley was born in Rochford.{{cite web |last=Worsdale |first=Jim |title=I really love Countdown... trust me, it is not being axed |url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9160420.I_really_love__Countdown____trust_me__it_is_not_being_axed/ |work=www.echo-news.co.uk |access-date=4 August 2015 |date=27 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924004922/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/9160420.I_really_love__Countdown____trust_me__it_is_not_being_axed/ |archive-date=24 September 2015}}{{cite news |last=Geoghegan |first=John |date=5 August 2009|title=Campaign can count on Rachel Riley's support|work=The Echo|url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/4528933.campaign-can-count-on-rachel-rileys-support/|access-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901172259/https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/4528933.campaign-can-count-on-rachel-rileys-support/|archive-date=1 September 2021}} Her mother is Jewish, and she has stated that her "family came over in the pogroms" from Tsarist Russia.{{cite news |last1=Sylvester |first1=Rachel |last2=Thomson |first2=Alice |date=26 January 2019 |title=Rachel Riley of Countdown finds her Jewish roots to take on the Corbynistas |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/rachel-riley-of-countdown-finds-her-jewish-roots-to-take-on-the-corbynistas-7hdmshx7f |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723112436/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rachel-riley-of-countdown-finds-her-jewish-roots-to-take-on-the-corbynistas-7hdmshx7f |archive-date=23 July 2019}} Riley was raised in the Thorpe Bay area of Southend-on-Sea and was educated at the independent Thorpe Hall School, and Southend High School for Girls,{{cite web |title=More Success for Rachel Riley |url=http://thorpehall.site-street.co.uk/page.php?main=16&news=33 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118152018/http://thorpehall.site-street.co.uk/page.php?main=16&news=33 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022 |website=Thorpe Hall School}} a grammar school, where she passed four A-Levels at grade A, after which she obtained a second-class degree in applied maths at Oriel College, Oxford.{{cite web|title=Rachel Riley - Biography|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/rachel-riley/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711222214/https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/rachel-riley|archive-date=11 July 2020|access-date=8 July 2020|website=Hello!|date=8 October 2013}}{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Tim |title=Rachel Riley: 'Stop saying that girls aren't as good at maths' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/oct/12/rachel-riley-countdown-stop-saying-girls-arent-good-at-maths |website=The Guardian |date=12 October 2014 |access-date=4 October 2022}}

During a university holiday, Riley considered a career in the financial sector and completed an internship at Deutsche Bank in the City of London. The experience put her off: she found the extreme behaviour of City traders wearing, and she disliked the early-morning train commute.{{cite news|last=Woods|first=Judith|date=18 June 2014|title=Rachel Riley: 'Strictly magnified the fault lines in my marriage'|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10909618/Rachel-Riley-Strictly-magnified-the-fault-lines-in-my-marriage.html|url-status=live|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204131559/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10909618/Rachel-Riley-Strictly-magnified-the-fault-lines-in-my-marriage.html|archive-date=4 December 2021}}

On Countdown, Riley replaced the long-serving Carol Vorderman. Like Vorderman, Riley's role is to place tiles on the board for the letters and numbers rounds and to find a solution in the numbers rounds if the contestants are unable to do so.{{cite news |date=21 November 2008 |title=Sky host Stelling joins Countdown |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7675710.stm |url-status=live |access-date=22 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218121151/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7675710.stm |archive-date=18 December 2008}} Riley's appointment to Countdown was announced at the same time as the announcement of a new main host, Jeff Stelling, replacing Des O'Connor; the duo of Stelling and Riley was in place for the new series beginning in January 2009. Although she had no ambition to be a television presenter, she was encouraged to apply by her mother, and decided to do so because she was interested in the numbers part of the game. Having beaten 1,000 applicants for the role, she commented, "There's only one cool maths job around and I was lucky enough to get it so I'm absolutely thrilled." Since its first broadcast on 2 January 2012, Riley has also performed her Countdown role on the comedy crossover spin-off version, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, alongside comedian Jimmy Carr as host.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Mike P. |date=12 February 2018 |title=Rachel Riley says edited out 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown jokes would 'end careers' |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/rachel-riley-says-edited-8-10-cats-countdown-jokes-end-careers-125819317.html |access-date=19 April 2024 |website=Yahoo News}}{{cite news |last=McVay |first=Ben |date=20 June 2019 |title=Countdown co-host Rachel Riley brands Derbyshire borough councillor a 'holocaust revisionist' in Twitter row |url=https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/countdown-co-host-rachel-riley-brands-derbyshire-borough-councillor-holocaust-revisionist-twitter-row-962661 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029201424/https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/politics/countdown-co-host-rachel-riley-brands-derbyshire-borough-councillor-holocaust-revisionist-twitter-row-962661 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |access-date=13 May 2020 |work=Derbyshire Times}}{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Abbie |date=19 March 2020 |title=Countdown axes studio audience for first time in 38 years as production continues despite coronavirus outbreak |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/19/countdown-filmed-behind-closed-doors-production-continues-despite-coronavirus-outbreak-12422306/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407032120/https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/19/countdown-filmed-behind-closed-doors-production-continues-despite-coronavirus-outbreak-12422306/ |archive-date=7 April 2020 |access-date=13 May 2020 |work=Metro}}

From September 2013, Riley appeared in the eleventh series of the BBC One ballroom dancing programme Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancing partner and future husband Pasha Kovalev. She was eliminated in week six of the show, on 3 November 2013, after losing out in the dance-off against Abbey Clancy and Aljaž Škorjanec, who went on to win the series. According to Riley, she lacked a natural talent for performing, so instead sought to frame each dance as that of a character. For the first five weeks, Riley suffered from stage fright, commenting, "As soon as the music would start, I would have a fuzzy brain and it was like an out-of-body experience"; after seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist, she was able to control her breathing, and so was only able to truly enjoy the show for what proved to be her final appearance.{{cite web |last=Jarvis |first=Alice Azania |date=7 March 2015 |title=Rachel Riley returns to the dancefloor |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/11453103/Rachel-Riley-returns-to-the-dancefloor.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917114143/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/11453103/Rachel-Riley-returns-to-the-dancefloor.html |archive-date=17 September 2016 |access-date=25 July 2016 |website=The Daily Telegraph}}

From 2013 to 2014, Riley co-presented the Channel 5 programme The Gadget Show with Jason Bradbury.{{cite web |title=The Gadget Show | Meet The Gadget Show's new presenter: Rachel Riley! by The Gadget Show |url=http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/meet-the-gadget-shows-new-presenter-rachel-riley |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525013605/http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/meet-the-gadget-shows-new-presenter-rachel-riley |archive-date=25 May 2013 |access-date=2 June 2013 |website=Channel 5}} She worked on three series of the show and was later replaced by Amy Williams.{{cite web |date=25 April 2014 |title=The Gadget Show's new presenter is an Olympic champion! |url=http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/the-gadget-shows-new-presenter-is-an-olympic-champion |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426214853/http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/the-gadget-shows-new-presenter-is-an-olympic-champion |archive-date=26 April 2014 |website=Channel 5}} In 2016, Riley was part of the three-person presenting team for ITV's six-part series, It's Not Rocket Science, billed by the network as an entertainment series celebrating science.{{cite web |title=It's Not Rocket Science Episode 1 |url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week7/its-not-rocket-science |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725070842/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week7/its-not-rocket-science |archive-date=25 July 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016 |website=ITV}} In August 2016, it was announced that Riley had joined Sky Sports to present Friday Night Football alongside her former Countdown co-presenter Jeff Stelling, and Fantasy Football Club with Max Rushden and Paul Merson.{{cite web |last=Sandwell |first=Ian |date=7 August 2016 |title=Unbelievable Jeff! Rachel Riley joins Sky Sports |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a803870/countdown-rachel-riley-joins-sky-sports/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809111548/http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a803870/countdown-rachel-riley-joins-sky-sports/ |archive-date=9 August 2016 |access-date=7 August 2022 |publisher=Digital Spy}} She left Friday Night Football in 2017.{{cite web |last=Houghton |first=Rianne |date=14 June 2017 |title=Countdown star Rachel Riley quits Sky Sports job after receiving 'hideous personal abuse' |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a830775/rachel-riley-quits-sky-sports-job-after-abuse/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806224902/http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a830775/rachel-riley-quits-sky-sports-job-after-abuse/ |archive-date=6 August 2017 |access-date=6 August 2017 |publisher=Digital Spy}}

In August 2012, Riley married Jamie Gilbert, whom she had met while they were both studying at the University of Oxford. It was announced in November 2013 that they were separating.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10482574/Rachel-Riley-in-split-from-husband.html|title=Rachel Riley in split from husband|last=Carter|first=Claire|date=29 November 2013|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=29 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130003227/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/10482574/Rachel-Riley-in-split-from-husband.html|archive-date=30 November 2013}} The split has been cited as an example of the Strictly curse.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/10483873/The-curse-of-Strictly-romances-that-have-crumbled-under-pressure-of-the-danceflloor.html|title=The curse of Strictly: romances that have crumbled under pressure of the danceflloor|last=Philipson|first=Alison|date=29 November 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=11 January 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112044244/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/10483873/The-curse-of-Strictly-romances-that-have-crumbled-under-pressure-of-the-danceflloor.html|archive-date=12 January 2019}} She began dating her Strictly dance partner, Pasha Kovalev, soon after the show ended in December 2013. On 28 June 2019,{{cite web|title=DocDetails|url=https://clerk.clarkcountynv.gov/AcclaimWeb/Document/DocDetails?TransactionItemId=12341712|access-date=11 February 2021|website=clerk.clarkcountynv.gov|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414145935/https://clerk.clarkcountynv.gov/AcclaimWeb/Document/DocDetails?TransactionItemId=12341712|url-status=live}} Riley and Kovalev married in Las Vegas.{{cite news |date=1 July 2019 |title=Countdown's Rachel Riley marries Strictly's Pasha |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48823920 |url-status=live |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701104114/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-48823920 |archive-date=1 July 2019}} On 15 December 2019, Riley gave birth to a girl, the couple's first child.{{cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/the-diary/rachel-riley-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-maven-aria-riley-kovaleva-1.494446 |title=Rachel Riley gives birth to baby girl – Maven Aria Riley Kovaleva |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218165108/https://www.thejc.com/news/the-diary/rachel-riley-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-maven-aria-riley-kovaleva-1.494446 |url-status=live}} On 5 November 2021, Riley gave birth to their second daughter.{{cite news |last=Petter |first=Olivia |date=8 November 2021 |title=Rachel Riley gives birth to daughter and reveals unusual name |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/rachel-riley-daughter-birth-name-noa-b1954210.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110142404/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/rachel-riley-daughter-birth-name-noa-b1954210.html |archive-date=10 November 2021}}

Riley is a keen supporter of Manchester United, like her father, who was originally from Salford;{{cite web |date=22 January 2013 |title=Me a sex symbol? It doesn't add up, says Rachel Riley |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10176379.me-a-sex-symbol-it-doesnt-add-up-says-rachel-riley/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206103923/http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10176379.Me_a_sex_symbol__It_doesn___t_add_up__says_Rachel_Riley/ |archive-date=6 February 2017 |access-date=7 August 2022 |website=Daily Gazette}}{{cite web |author=Media Monkey |date=24 June 2013 |title=Countdown: Rachel Riley red-faced over Ryan Giggs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jun/24/countdown-rachel-riley-ryan-giggs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831220936/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/jun/24/countdown-rachel-riley-ryan-giggs |archive-date=31 August 2013 |access-date=24 June 2013 |work=The Guardian}} in October 2010, Riley presented a programme on the club's television channel MUTV which featured a tour of their Trafford Training Centre in Carrington. She has also hosted episodes of An Audience with... on the channel. To mark her 1,000th episode of Countdown (aired on 25 June 2013), United player Ryan Giggs presented her with a signed team shirt, Giggs himself having celebrated his 1,000th game for the club the same year.{{cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=24 June 2013 |title=Ryan Giggs to appear on 'Countdown' |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a492587/ryan-giggs-to-appear-on-rachel-rileys-1000th-countdown-episode/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627164443/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a492587/ryan-giggs-to-appear-on-rachel-rileys-1000th-countdown-episode.html |archive-date=27 June 2013 |access-date=7 August 2022 |publisher=Digital Spy}} In her appearance as a contestant on the BBC quiz show Celebrity Mastermind, broadcast on 4 January 2012, her specialist subject was a limited (13-year) history of the club; she eventually finished in joint second place.{{cite web |last=Walker-Arnott |first=Ellie |date=2 September 2013 |title=Strictly Come Dancing 2013: Rachel Riley |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-09-02/strictly-come-dancing-2013-rachel-riley |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822035833/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-09-02/strictly-come-dancing-2013-rachel-riley |archive-date=22 August 2016 |access-date=25 July 2016 |website=Radio Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01977sw|title=Episode 7, 2011/2012, Celebrity Mastermind – BBC One|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111230009/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01977sw|archive-date=11 January 2012}}

Since 2016, Riley has worked with Grassroot Soccer, a global adolescent health organisation that leverages the power of football to equip young people with the life-saving information, services, and mentorship they need to live healthier lives. Riley is a Global Ambassador for the organisation and a member of its UK Board of Directors.{{Cite web |title=Rachel Riley MBE |url=https://grassrootsoccer.org/people/rachel-riley/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Grassroot Soccer |language=en-US}}

In 2017, Riley was the co-winner with Idris Elba of the Rear of the Year award.{{cite news |last=Kale |first=Sirin |date=20 August 2019 |title=Behind the times? The strange, sad story of rear of the year |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/20/behind-the-times-the-strange-sad-story-of-rear-of-the-year |url-status=live |access-date=24 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214024451/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/20/behind-the-times-the-strange-sad-story-of-rear-of-the-year |archive-date=14 December 2019}} She and her husband became vegan in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Tasha |title=Countdown's Rachel Riley was 'ill for 10 years' as she blasts 'useless doctors' for oversight |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/countdowns-rachel-riley-ill-10-30246400 |access-date=28 July 2023 |work=Daily Record |date=15 June 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Shahid |first1=Sharnaz |title=Rachel Riley shares debilitating struggle after 'being ill for 10 years' |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/495630/rachel-riley-debilitating-struggle-10-year-health-battle/ |access-date=28 July 2023 |work=Hello! |date=16 June 2023}} She is Jewish. {{cite web|title=Rachel Riley: People are grateful I've spoken out about antisemitism|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/rachel-riley-people-are-grateful-ive-spoken-out-about-antisemitism/|date=16 March 2019|newspaper=Jewish News|access-date=23 July 2019|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723001545/https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/rachel-riley-people-are-grateful-ive-spoken-out-about-antisemitism/|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Riley began a campaign against the way the Labour Party under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn had handled allegations of antisemitism. She said she decided to speak out after seeing "Israel is a racist endeavour" posters on London bus stops.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/rachel-riley-jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-twitter-labour-members-controversy-a8720761.html|title=The Rachel Riley Twitter row over antisemitism is just another glimpse of Team Corbyn's flawed and fatal logic|last=Dimmock|first=Joel|work=The Independent|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113235151/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/rachel-riley-jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-twitter-labour-members-controversy-a8720761.html|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite AV media |date=9 January 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-f6suP-Ojo |title=Rachel Riley on combating antisemitism, 10 years on Countdown and getting girls into maths |publisher=Channel 4 News |via=YouTube |access-date=1 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210063805/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-f6suP-Ojo |archive-date=10 December 2020 |url-status=live}} In September 2018, after criticising Corbyn over the ongoing antisemitism allegations, she stated she did not have "any party loyalties".{{cite web |date=12 September 2018 |title=Rachel Riley called 'thick' for criticising Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism row |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/12/rachel-riley-called-thick-criticising-jeremy-corbyn-anti-semitism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183530/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/12/rachel-riley-called-thick-criticising-jeremy-corbyn-anti-semitism/ |archive-date=10 January 2019 |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=The Telegraph }}

In February 2019, according to The Times and i, Riley had been involved in talks to set up a centrist breakaway party from Labour.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/countdown-star-rachel-riley-attended-breakaway-labour-party-meeting-mh67zr5sn|title=Countdown star Rachel Riley attended breakaway Labour party meeting|last=Devlin|first=Kate|date=11 February 2019|access-date=2 July 2019|work=The Times|archive-date=2 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702131622/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/countdown-star-rachel-riley-attended-breakaway-labour-party-meeting-mh67zr5sn|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Clinton |first=Jane |date=11 February 2019 |title=Rachel Riley among backers looking to launch centrist breakaway party from Labour |work=i |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rachel-riley-launch-breakaway-centrist-pro-europe-labour-party/ |url-status=live |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702131635/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rachel-riley-launch-breakaway-centrist-pro-europe-labour-party/ |archive-date=2 July 2019}} According to Jewish News in April 2019, Riley backed the Stop Funding Fake News campaign.{{cite news |last=Frot |first=Mathilde |date=3 April 2019 |title=How a group of friends are fighting fake news – with a hand from Rachel Riley |work=Jewish News |url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/how-a-group-of-friends-are-fighting-fake-news-with-a-hand-from-rachel-riley/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407054826/https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/how-a-group-of-friends-are-fighting-fake-news-with-a-hand-from-rachel-riley/ |archive-date=7 April 2019}} In November 2019, Riley posted an image on Twitter of herself wearing a shirt with an edited image of Corbyn carrying a sign bearing the caption "Jeremy Corbyn is a racist endeavour". The tweet was condemned by some for erasing the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa, the original subject of the sign, to make a political point, with some users calling for Riley to be fired.{{cite news |last=Embury-Dennis |first=Tom |date=21 November 2019 |title=Rachel Riley edits out anti-apartheid message in attack on Jeremy Corbyn |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rachel-riley-corbyn-apartheid-labour-antisemitism-racism-twitter-a9211696.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122164113/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rachel-riley-corbyn-apartheid-labour-antisemitism-racism-twitter-a9211696.html |archive-date=22 November 2019}} The professional photographer who took the original shot, Rob Scott, also declared his displeasure, claiming she had "illegally manipulated and printed" the picture to "cynically promote her agenda", adding: "I am appalled by the abuse of property, moral rights and change of anti-racist message to anti-Corbyn one."{{cite web |last=Speare-Cole |first=Rebecca |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/photographer-hits-out-at-rachel-riley-for-wearing-tshirt-using-an-illegally-manipulated-version-of-a4297041.html |title=Photographer hits out at Rachel Riley for wearing t-shirt with 'illegal' version of his picture of Jeremy Corbyn |work=Evening Standard |date=26 November 2019 |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218142043/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/photographer-hits-out-at-rachel-riley-for-wearing-tshirt-using-an-illegally-manipulated-version-of-a4297041.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Heffer |first=Greg |date=22 November 2019 |title=Rachel Riley facing calls to be sacked over edited Jeremy Corbyn image |url=https://news.sky.com/story/rachel-riley-facing-calls-to-be-sacked-over-edited-jeremy-corbyn-image-11866683 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118105546/https://news.sky.com/story/rachel-riley-facing-calls-to-be-sacked-over-edited-jeremy-corbyn-image-11866683 |archive-date=18 November 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=Sky News}}

In February 2019, Riley and fellow campaigner Tracy-Ann Oberman instructed a lawyer to take action against 70 individuals who had posted tweets which Riley and Oberman regarded as either libellous or harassment.{{cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |title=Rachel Riley and Tracy Ann Oberman to take legal action after Twitter abuse |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/21/rachel-riley-and-tracy-ann-oberman-to-take-legal-action-after-twitter-abuse-antisemitism |access-date=5 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=21 February 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306011353/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/21/rachel-riley-and-tracy-ann-oberman-to-take-legal-action-after-twitter-abuse-antisemitism |url-status=live}} As a result, Riley and Oberman sued one person who had retweeted a link to an article which had accused Oberman and Riley of harassing a young Labour activist who had commented on antisemitism in the Labour Party. In May 2019, a High Court judge ruled that the article that was linked in the tweet was defamatory. In July 2020, Riley and Oberman dropped their joint libel suit and contributed towards the defendant's legal costs.{{cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=29 July 2020 |title=Rachel Riley and Tracy-Ann Oberman drop libel claim over retweet |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/29/rachel-riley-and-tracy-ann-oberman-drop-libel-claim-over-retweet |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730142710/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/29/rachel-riley-and-tracy-ann-oberman-drop-libel-claim-over-retweet |archive-date=30 July 2020}}{{cite news |last=Judah |first=Jacob |date=29 July 2020 |title=Tracy-Ann Oberman and Rachel Riley drop defamation case |work=The Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/tracy-ann-oberman-and-rachel-riley-drop-defamation-case-on-twitter-harassment-1.502033 |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731093216/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/tracy-ann-oberman-and-rachel-riley-drop-defamation-case-on-twitter-harassment-1.502033 |archive-date=31 July 2020}}

In 2021, Riley was awarded £10,000 damages by a High Court judge after suing Laura Murray, then an aide of Corbyn, over comments made on Twitter that included "This woman [Riley] is as dangerous as she is stupid."{{cite news |title=Rachel Riley wins £10,000 damages over Nazi tweet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59731932 |access-date=12 August 2022 |publisher=BBC News |date=22 February 2022}} On 16 November 2022, Riley was awarded £50,000 in damages after a libel action against Michael Sivier, a blogger who had accused Riley of abusing a teenager during a 2019 Twitter discussion. Sivier had previously been found liable for three of the four claims against him before the Court of Appeal of England and Wales ordered a review of the exclusion of a public interest defense. The High Court's subsequent decision reaffirmed the judgment against Sivier and the damages awarded to Riley.{{cite web |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/countdowns-rachel-riley-awarded-50-110700670.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANBtsKvofGQloJgUNYO4aMTiz0mpbsmMO54nnrKLCHYBdoBAXfnliag1AXUee49kSQ0C8iTbnwVKlU0AXtGgDTLy9bEV44VJEPEwQI6Gp2GCsc3e2KCWFxw6o_1SgoRVinVomN0Vzj2QCx44Zm1WNO2YG9WWneKjtT5AY_9RX80I |title=Countdown star Rachel Riley awarded £50,000 damages over blogger's 'wholly unbalanced' article |author= |date=16 November 2022 |website=Yahoo |access-date=11 January 2023 |quote=}}{{cite web |title=Riley v Sivier [2022] EWHC 2891 (KB) (16 November 2022) |url=https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/KB/2022/2891.html |access-date=22 November 2022}}

Riley was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to Holocaust education and antisemitism awareness.

In March 2024, Riley appeared on a panel the Swipe-Up Rise-Up conference to call on Jewish students to "be courageous" in calling out antisemitism.{{cite news |last1=Ben-David |first1=Daniel |title=Be courageous and speak out against hate, Rachel Riley tells Jewish pupils |url=https://www.thejc.com/community/be-courageous-and-speak-out-against-hate-rachel-riley-tells-jewish-pupils-ls6aj6n2 |access-date=5 May 2024 |work=www.thejc.com |language=en}}

In April 2024, during the Gaza war, Riley accused Apple of antisemitism when an iPhone update displayed the Palestinian flag as a suggested emoji when users type in the word "Jerusalem".{{Cite news |date=2024-04-10 |title=Apple sparks Palestinian flag emoji controversy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68778830 |access-date=2024-04-11 |language=en-GB}} After the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbings, and before the facts of the incident emerged, Riley linked the attack to support for Palestine and the "global intifada", stating: "If you want to know what 'globalise the intifada' looks like, see the Sydney mall."{{cite news |last1=Stolworthy |first1=jJacob |title=Rachel Riley says she's 'sorry' if racist post was 'misunderstood' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/rachel-riley-twitter-sydney-channel-4-b2528755.html |work=The Independent |date=15 April 2024 |language=en}} The post was "heavily accused of perpetuating Islamophobia". Riley subsequently deleted her post and said she was "sorry if this message was misunderstood". Riley stated that her comments were not meant to imply a link to Islamic extremism.{{Cite web |last=Lawes |first=Ruth |date=2024-04-14 |title=Channel 4 responds after calls to sack Rachel Riley for 'Islamophobic' remark |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/14/rachel-riley-sorry-misunderstanding-sydney-stabbing-tweet-20645947/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Metro |language=en}} The perpetrator was later identified as Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old mentally ill man from Toowoomba.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Josefine Ganko, Sarah McPhee, Daniella |date=2024-04-14 |title=Bondi Junction stabbing live updates: NSW Police identify Joel Cauchi as attacker; John Singleton's daughter among multiple dead in Sydney's eastern suburbs |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/bondi-junction-attack-live-updates-sydney-reeling-after-stabbing-attack-leaves-multiple-dead-critically-injured-in-city-s-eastern-suburbs-20240413-p5fjlp.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413212331/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/bondi-junction-attack-live-updates-sydney-reeling-after-stabbing-attack-leaves-multiple-dead-critically-injured-in-city-s-eastern-suburbs-20240413-p5fjlp.html |archive-date=13 April 2024 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Joel Cauchi was a 'tormented soul' says his tearful father Andrew after Bondi Junction stabbing |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-15/bondi-junction-westfield-stabbings-joel-cauchi-andrew-cauchi/103708652 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415120730/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-15/bondi-junction-westfield-stabbings-joel-cauchi-andrew-cauchi/103708652 |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite web |last1=Loftus |first1=Tobi |last2=Black |first2=Jessica |date=2024-04-14 |title=Police have identified the Westfield Bondi Junction attacker. Here's what we know |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-14/westfield-bondi-junction-attacker-identified-what-we-know/103706236 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414121907/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-14/westfield-bondi-junction-attacker-identified-what-we-know/103706236 |archive-date=14 April 2024 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} Channel 4 stated: "We have reminded Rachel of her obligations as a contributor to Channel 4 programming."

Riley has visited schools to enthuse pupils on the "joys of applied maths, quantum mechanics and time travel and so on". In June 2019, Riley was criticised by environmental groups and accused of greenwashing for her promotion of the "future energy solutions" of Shell, an oil and gas company.{{cite news |last=Snaith |first=Emma |date=28 June 2019 |title=Rachel Riley accused of 'greenwashing' for promoting oil company Shell |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rachel-riley-shell-oil-company-greenwashing-climate-change-bright-ideas-tweet-a8979846.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629140040/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rachel-riley-shell-oil-company-greenwashing-climate-change-bright-ideas-tweet-a8979846.html |archive-date=29 June 2019}} She participated in an April 2022 study by Center for Countering Digital Hate, which found that Instagram failed to act on 90% of abusive direct messages sent to high-profile women.{{cite web |last=Sung |first=Morgan |date=7 April 2022 |title=Instagram 'systemically fails' to protect high-profile women from abuse, study finds |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/viral/instagram-ignores-dm-abuse-study-rcna23271 |access-date=9 April 2022 |publisher=NBC News}}{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Kari |date=6 April 2022 |title=High-profile women on Instagram face 'epidemic of misogynist abuse', study finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/05/high-profile-women-on-instagram-face-epidemic-of-misogynist-abuse-study-finds |access-date=9 April 2022 |website=The Guardian}} In October 2021, Riley published her first book, At Sixes and Sevens: How to Understand Numbers and Make Maths Easy.{{cite web |last=Howarth |first=Alice |title=Rachel Riley shows off baby bump as she announces her new book is out |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/news/a38101498/rachel-riley-shows-off-baby-bump-as-she-announces-her-new-book-is-out/ |website=Good Housekeeping |date=29 October 2021 |access-date=13 April 2024}}

{{Div col}}

• Chris Moyles' Quiz Night (22 March 2009)
• This Morning (26 March 2010)
• 8 Out of 10 Cats (17 June 2011, 12 August 2011, 21 October 2011, 23 March 2012, 11 May 2012, 15 June 2012, 29 October 2012, 1 February 2013)
• Celebrity Mastermind (4 January 2012)
• The Bank Job: Celebrity Special (16 March 2012)
• The Chase: Celebrity Special (19 August 2012, 8 June 2018)
• 12 Again (2 November 2012)
• Pointless Celebrities (17 December 2012)
• Sunday Brunch (10 February 2013)
• Five Minutes to a Fortune (21 April 2013)
• Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (9 June 2013)
• Top Gear (30 June 2013)
• I Love My Country (31 August 2013)
• Sweat the Small Stuff (12 November 2013)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (4 February 2014)
• The Guess List (24 May 2014)
• Backchat (3 June 2014)
• TV OD (19 June 2014)
• Celebrity Fifteen to One (27 June 2014){{Cite news|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cxy6h4/celebrity-fifteen-to-one--series-1---episode-4| title=Celebrity Fifteen to One: Series 1 - Episode 4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630010643/http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cxy6h4/celebrity-fifteen-to-one--series-1---episode-4|archive-date=30 June 2014|newspaper=Radio Times|url-status=dead }}
• Virtually Famous (21 July 2014)
• Celebrity Squares (8 October 2014){{Cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep5week41/celebrity-squares|title=Celebrity Squares|access-date=6 October 2014|website=ITV|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005235105/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep5week41/celebrity-squares|archive-date=5 October 2014}}
• Text Santa (19 December 2014)
• Would I Lie to You? (22 December 2014)
• Room 101 (18 February 2015)
• Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit (26 September 2016)
• Saturday Kitchen (3 December 2016)
• Play to the Whistle (28 February 2017)
• Through the Keyhole (3 February 2018)
• The Crystal Maze (22 June 2018)
• Richard Osman's House of Games (12-16 November 2018)
• Michael McIntyre's The Wheel (9 January 2021), (24 February 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001rsvn|title=Michael McIntyre's The Wheel|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 February 2024}}
• Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (9 November 2021){{Cite web |title=Celebrity Antiques Road Trip - 9 November 2021 - BBC Two |url=https://tveveryday.com/celebrity-antiques-road-trip-9-november-2021-9-11-2021-bbc-two/ |website=tveveryday.com |access-date=9 November 2021 |language=en |date=9 November 2021 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109193233/https://tveveryday.com/celebrity-antiques-road-trip-9-november-2021-9-11-2021-bbc-two/ |url-status=live }}
• Saturday Kitchen Rosh Hashanah Special (24 September 2022){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ck16|title=Saturday Kitchen|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=2 October 2022}}
• Beat The Chasers - Celebrity Special (19 January 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep7weekweek-03-2024-sat-13-jan-fri-19-jan/beat-chasers-celebrity-special|title=Beat The Chasers - Celebrity Special|website=itv.com/presscentre|access-date=23 January 2024}}
• The Festive Pottery Throwdown 2024 (26 December 2024){{cite web|url=https://www.prima.co.uk/leisure/tv-and-film/a63089792/great-pottery-throw-down-christmas-special-2024/|title=The Great Pottery Throw Down Christmas special has a release date|website=prima.co.uk|access-date=14 December 2024}}
• The Weakest Link (12 April 2025){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029ldx|title=The Weakest Link|website=bbc.co.uk/programmes|access-date=13 April 2025}}

{{div col end}}

She has also made brief appearances in Dispatches, Britain's Brightest and 1001 Things You Should Know.

• "For services to Holocaust Education", Riley was awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=31 December 2022 |title=Rachel Riley awarded MBE in New Year Honours for work combatting antisemitism |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/rachel-riley-mbe-new-years-honours-antisemitism-b2253862.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231054008/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/rachel-riley-mbe-new-years-honours-antisemitism-b2253862.html |archive-date=31 December 2022 |access-date=31 December 2022 |website=The Independent}}{{London Gazette

| issue = 63918

| date = 30 December 2022

| page = N23

| supp = 1

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{{reflist}}

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• {{IMDb name|3205512}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Rachel}}

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Activists against antisemitism

Category:Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford

Category:English atheists

Category:English Jews

Category:English women television presenters

Category:Jewish atheists

Category:People educated at Southend High School for Girls

Category:People from Rochford

Category:People from Southend-on-Sea

Category:English secular Jews

Category:Television personalities from Essex

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:English people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:Jewish British anti-racism activists

Category:Jewish English activists

Category:British anti-racism activists