‘It’s given us enforced maternity and paternity leave’: Rachel Riley admits she is ‘loving’ lockdown with Pasha Kovalev and baby Maven… as she rejoices at their work cancellation
Rachel Riley and her Strictly star husband Pasha Kovalev welcomed their beloved baby daughter to the world in December.
And while the Countdown whizz and the dancer, aged 34 and 40 respectively, were due to return to work after Maven’s arrival the global coronavirus pandemic has meant her TV appearances and the Strictly tour have been postponed.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Lucy Horobin, Rachel admitted the countrywide lockdown has been something of a blessing for the family as they have been given ‘enforced maternity and paternity leave’.
Happy days: Rachel Riley and her Strictly star husband Pasha Kovalev welcomed their beloved baby daughter to the world in December and are now in lockdown
Jamie asked Rachel how she’s feeling about new parenthood in lockdown: ‘Now Rachel I know you had a baby at the end of last year, how are you adjusting to parenthood in lockdown, how’s that been for you?’
Rachel responded: ‘Well we’re quite fortunate in a way, I was supposed to be back at work, Pasha was supposed to be on tour, and it’s kind of enforced maternity and paternity leave we didn’t have before so we’re loving it…
‘She’s just over five months, I’ve left her in bed in kind of the same sleeping position as Pash, if you hear crying it could be either one of them I have no idea.’
Jamie admitted lockdown ‘fits’ having a young baby, to which Rachel responded: ‘Yeah we couldn’t go out in the evenings anyway because she refused a bottle…
Her love: And while the Countdown whizz and the dancer, aged 34 and 40 respectively, were due to return to work after Maven’s arrival the global coronavirus pandemic has meant her TV appearances and the Strictly tour have been postponed
‘So I needed to be with her and I just developed all the bad habits they tell you not to do because I’m here…
‘My mother in law, she was over from Russia visiting me and she got here with the Russian borders closing so I’ve got a live-in babysitter as well so as lockdowns go, we’re really lucky and can’t complain.’
Lucy queried: ‘Are you coping well with each other as well? I mean I’ll put my hands up and say my boyfriend and I have had a fair few tiffs during lockdown. It can get a little bit much sometimes, how have you faired?’
Rachel said: ‘I mean we’re just in the new baby glow…
Happy days: Rachel said: ‘I mean we’re just in the new baby glow’
‘Thankfully the weather has been lovely and every day I wear my sling which is guaranteed some sleep and I just got to the park and the sun is shining , and all the ducklings are coming out so it’s quite lovely.
Speaking to MailOnline, Rachel went on: ‘I’ve developed bad habits because there’s now this enforced maternity leave that Pasha and I wouldn’t have had otherwise. So we are home with Maven all the time. That means we’ve got a very happy baby!’
Tune into Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden, weekdays from 6:30am – 10am.