Pasha Kovalev, a former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has shared candid insights about the emotional challenges he faced when deciding to leave the hit BBC programme. The Russian dancer, who joined the show in 2011 and stayed for eight series, described the experience as heart-wrenching.
During his time on Strictly, Pasha met his future wife, Rachel Riley, when they were paired as dance partners in 2013. Their on-screen partnership blossomed into a real-life romance, culminating in their marriage in 2019. Today, the couple are proud parents to two daughters, Maven and Noa.
Pasha’s final Strictly appearance was in 2018, where he danced to second place alongside Ashley Roberts, former member of the Pussycat Dolls. Reflecting on his departure, Pasha told Heat magazine that stepping away felt like the “right moment.” He explained, “It was time to move on and I don’t regret it.”
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The most difficult part of being a professional dancer, according to Pasha, was “saying goodbye” to each celebrity partner. He described the emotional toll: “Part of your heart stays with that person, then the next year you have to find energy and more love to give to the next person. My heart was torn into pieces and given away to random people, so I had to make one of them my wife. Rachel said it was part of her Strictly contract.”
Rachel Riley, known for presenting Countdown, is described by Pasha as his soulmate. The couple have built a happy life together, and recently Rachel hinted that their family is complete. Their daughters, Maven and Noa, have already started ballet classes. Rachel shared with Woman magazine, “Maven has got her first ballet exam coming up, and Noa has her first show soon. They love it and always get Pasha to throw them around the kitchen.”
In addition to their shared love of dance, Rachel has called Pasha her “sanctuary.” She opened up about her appreciation for their loving relationship following a friend’s experience of domestic abuse. Speaking to The I newspaper, Rachel said, “Watching a friend experience domestic violence made me realise how lucky I am. It made me appreciate that my home – and Pasha – is my sanctuary. We have a partnership and security.”
Rachel attributed their strong bond to their contrasting personalities. “Pasha is really solid. We respect each other, find each other interesting, make each other laugh, and talk about all sorts of different things,” she said. Though they come from “completely different backgrounds” and hold “different outlooks,” they cherish their deep conversations and mutual support.
On television, Rachel will return to screens on December 24 with a Christmas special of 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown on Channel 4. Meanwhile, Pasha continues his dance career with Legends of the Dancefloor, a theatrical show featuring former Strictly stars Ian Waite, Vincent Simone, James Jordan, and Brendan Cole. Next year, they will debut a new production, Vegas: After Hours, touring around the UK.