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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Katie Rosseinsky

Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev welcome first child

Rachel Riley has announced the birth of her first child with husband Pasha Kovalev.

The Countdown host, 33, and the former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 39, welcomed their daughter Maven Aria on Sunday.

Riley shared the happy news with her Twitter followers on Wednesday morning and shared several pictures of the newborn wearing a colourful knitted onesie.

“2 weeks after we were expecting her this little one finally made an appearance!" the presenter wrote.

“Miss Maven (one who understands) Aria (lioness) Riley Kovaleva arrived on Sunday morning weighing in at 7lbs 4."

The presenter revealed that her daughter was born at home with the help of a doula and "wonderful" midwives.

"After keeping us waiting she came out so fast we didn't get to hospital & was born in our bathroom with our amazing doula & wonderful St Mary's midwives rushing over to be with us just in time!" she added.

"She's absolutely perfect & Pasha & I are in newborn bliss. Couldn't be more in love."

Riley and Kovalev met in 2013 when they were partnered in Strictly Come Dancing and started dating in 2014, after the TV star split from husband Jamie Gilbert.

The couple announced that they were expecting their first child in May when Riley shared a photo of herself cradling her baby bump in front of the famous Countdown board with the letters spelling out "R TINY MATE," an anagram of "maternity."

They married in Las Vegas in July.

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