• Rachel Riley called Strictly Come Dancing more stressful than swimming with sharks.
• She developed PTSD after her 2013 participation and avoids the show.
• Fans adored her ocean-themed dress during the Lorraine interview.
• Riley met her husband Pasha Kovalev on Strictly but won’t return.
• Her shark-diving show focused on conservation, changing perceptions about sharks.

Rachel Riley, known for her role on Countdown, recently stirred up conversations with her candid comments about Strictly Come Dancing. During an interview on Lorraine, she expressed she’d prefer an encounter with great white sharks over participating in the BBC dance show again.

While her comments sparked discussion, fans couldn’t ignore her stunning ocean-inspired dress, which stole the spotlight.

Rachel Riley’s Stark Comparison: Sharks vs. Strictly

While chatting with Christine Lampard on Lorraine, Riley shared her perspective by drawing a comparison between her time on Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters and Strictly Come Dancing.

“With the clear skies and endless ocean, you know what to expect,” she explained. “But Strictly is on a whole different plane of challenges—I’d choose the company of great white sharks over Strictly any day.”

Her comments reveal the lingering effects of her participation in the 2013 season of the show, where she was partnered with her husband, Pasha Kovalev. Despite their romantic success, Riley confessed the intense atmosphere left her grappling with PTSD, necessitating therapy to manage anxiety sparked by the show’s iconic theme tune.

While she avoids watching Strictly, she praised her husband, calling him “amazing” .

Fans React to Rachel’s Bold Look

Although her words were sharp, online discussions were sparked as much by her outfit choice. Her dress, patterned like ocean waves in blue and white, complemented the sea-themed aspect of her shark-diving adventure, with fans calling it “sensational” and “gorgeous.”

In a light-hearted moment, Riley also shared some behind-the-scenes clips from the Bahamas, jesting that nighttime dives near shipwrecks were “less daunting than stepping back onto the Strictly dance floor.”

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Last Updated on August 1, 2025 by 247 News Around The World