Rachel Riley Interview

1) Describe yourself in five words:

Independent, practical, logical, easygoing, giving

2) What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Never dig a wine cellar in a boat.

3) If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life — what would it be and why?

Something by the Beach Boys, it’s cheerful and my dad used to play them when I was small. If I’m not fed up of them by now it’s a good bet for the long haul!

4) What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

I did an internship at a hedge fund in London one summer before I finished uni, the worst bit was commuting in from Essex on the 5.29am train — I’m not a morning person and I just couldn’t handle it!

5) Which two United players would you most like to have on Countdown, and why?

Rio because he’s got good banter and would have fun with it Vs RVP to get to know him a bit more, he comes across as a very nice and intelligent man.

6) What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

Follow Sir Alex around, but not in a creepy way!  Just to see what it’s actually like to be him.

7) Where will you be in five years time?

That’s a scary question for a newly wed but I keep getting asked! I tend not to plan more than a couple of weeks ahead but hopefully still presenting Countdown and other things too.

8) Which newspaper(s) do you read?

The Times does a brilliant Science magazine called Eureka once a month that I try to remember, otherwise the Evening Standard. I mostly look online for the news now.

9) Do you have any tattoos? Of what? Where?

No, my little brother had around seven by the time he turned 18 and my getting one would have sent my mum over the edge!

10) What’s your greatest achievement?

I’ve always gone for things when they seem improbable or even impossible like getting into Oxford or applying for my job on Countdown, so getting the yeses in the first place were big achievements for me. Getting on and doing well in them are harder and so bigger achievements.  Posing next to words like GROWLERS and SPUNKIER without laughing are also up there, well I’ve almost managed that!

11) Have you ever sung at a karaoke night, and if so which song?

I can’t sing a note! Jeff Stelling did a memorable rendition of Billy Joel’s Always a Woman at a Countdown Christmas do, so if forced, I’d do that. At least mine wouldn’t be the worst version of it I’d ever heard!

12) Can you tell us a joke (that we can print)?

What’s the difference between a dog?… One of its legs is both the same… It doesn’t make any sense but seeing how confused people get can be funny!

13) Have the hairs ever stood up on the back of your neck and if so, why?

Nope — no hairy neck.

14) Is cricket boring?

Hell yeah!  Any descriptions of enjoying watching it usually involve sunshine, the outdoors and a drink, none of which you need the cricket for!  Any sport played for five days, with one team scoring higher but still drawing is ridiculous.

15) Do you think it’s funny that football fans say “we” when they talk about their team?

Not at all. You grow up watching your team and supporting them through the highs and the lows and it gets in your blood. Fans travel up and down the country and around the world supporting their team and spend so much time and money on it.  Players come and go and are paid to be there, if the fans can’t say “we” then I don’t know who can!

16) Who’s the best player you’ve ever seen at Old Trafford?

So many! Ronaldo for his trickery; Rooney for his strength and power; Scholes for his passing and how he can control and dictate the tempo of the game and Schmeichel for just being superhuman.

17) Best and worst experiences at United?

The worst was against Bayern Munich in 2010 when we were knocked out of the Champions League on away goals.  We would’ve gone through at 3-1 up but Rafael was sent off after 50 minutes and Robben scored after that. The atmosphere was incredible and the fans made up for being a man down but it was gutting to be knocked out.  The best was the following season, again in the Champions League. I was working with the lovely Jeff Stelling on Countdown and he was covering the Champions League for Sky so he snuck me in with him a couple of times. I watched the Chelsea quarter final with Jeff and Jamie Redknapp and Ray Wilkins (both with Chelsea connections). It was brilliant to see us win that one!

18) Half time… Prawn sandwich or a pie? If pie, what kind?

Prawns are my favourite food, not even Roy Keane after his weird Nani red card rant can put me off them!

19) Do you sing the sweary football songs?

I love singing the songs, some of them are so funny but I try to save the swear words for shouting at the TV when I’m watching at home and only the cats can hear me! I don’t have a problem with hearing it myself but I took Susie (Countdown dictionary corner) Dent’s 11-year-old daughter to Scholesy’s testimonial in 2011. We sat in the family area and heard some words that let’s just say wouldn’t feature on Countdown which was a bit of a shame considering the occasion.

20) Who has been your favourite opposition team — domestic or foreign?

The whole spectacle of the Champions League final against Barcelona was incredible and if you’re going to lose a final then losing to the best in the world at that time is who you want to lose to. Our Countdown producer is a Blackpool fan so I was sad that they went down after playing us on the last day of the season in 2011 they played with good spirit against us both times.

21) Have you ever played football at any level?

I used to go to half term soccer schools when I was little but I didn’t play again till uni. I joined my college team. Christ Church-Oriel. and we won the league at 11-a-side and seven-a-side. We weren’t playing at a great standard but I loved it!  I played attacking midfield and I was better with my head than my feet!  I joined a Sunday league team in Southend when I left uni but had to give it up because of working away on Countdown.

22) Who would win at boxing between Simon Cowell and David Walliams, and why?

Simon Cowell because he’d probably pay someone to do it for him! I’ve met David Walliams and he’s a lovely and gentle man and he’s got the height advantage. But Simon Cowell’s competitive streak would mean he’d want to win at any cost.

23) Dead or alive, who would you most like to dine with and what would you discuss?

My relatives. I never got to meet them or to see what their lives were like. We think some fled persecution in what was Russia a few generations back but they didn’t speak much English when they came over so we don’t have any good records. I’d love to do ‘Who Do You Think you Are?’ and find out.

24) If you were a biscuit, which would you be?

A Ben’s Cookie — they’re amazing if they’re taken out of the oven before they’re completely cooked.  I’m impatient with little things like that and am always popping the toast up too early and running out the door with half dried hair.

25) What would be the first thing you would do if today was your last day?

Make some banana and chocolate pancakes.

26) If you had to describe Man City and its fans to a stranger, how would you do it?

Manchester City is a football club which after 32 years with no silverware was bought by an Arab billionaire. They spent £930m in just over three years to win their third ever Championship on goal difference! They are currently 15 points behind Manchester United who are bidding on their 20th Championship. City fans often claim that they are the biggest club in Manchester, citing a larger percentage of fans living in the city than rivals Manchester United. This isn’t true… United has more fans in Manchester, yet, with the millions around the world who also love the Reds this percentage is much smaller. City have no such global appeal.