Countdown star Rachel Riley reveals that she once danced privately in front of Stephen Hawking

World famous theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking died on March 14, 2018, at the age of 76. He was one of the greatest scientists of the modern era. The space and science community mourned his death and many people started sharing their experience or interaction with Stephen Hawking. Recently, Countdown star Rachel Riley revealed that she once performed a private dance for Stephen Hawking in Birmingham. She danced to the tunes Nelly Furtado hit ‘Maneater’ in front of Stephen Hawking.

The television presenter informed that Dr. Stpehen Hawking, the author of the book “A Brief History of Time”, laughed when she accidentally headbutted her dance partner during the dance performance. In a recent interview on the Chris Ramsey show, Riley opened up about how her self-confessed weirdest day ever’ kick-started when television chef Ainsley Harriott cooked three Christmas dinners for her as they filmed the Gadget Show.

It was during the show that comedian Jimmy Carr sent a message to Riley informing her that he was going out with Dr. Hawking and his family in Birmingham and asked her if she could join them. “Weirdest day ever! I was filming The Gadget Show. So in the morning Ainsley Harriott cooked me three Christmas dinners – in October – and then Jimmy Carr messaged saying he was going out with Stephen Hawking and his family and friends, who are good mates,” said Riley at The Chris Ramsey show

Riley then said that Carr said to her that Hawking was a big big fan of Strictly Come Dancing in which she was participating at that time. Riley said that she then joined Hawking and Carr for the night out. She also brought her boyfriend and Strictly Come Dancing partner Pasha Kovalev along with her. When Riley arrived at Birmingham she felt that she should perform in front of Stephen Hawking to entertain one of the greatest minds of the world. Riley said that hawking put the music on and she went to perform the dance and after three beats she accidentally head-butted Pasha to which Hawking laughed. She said that she still has the video somewhere.