RACHEL Riley is having the time of her life. Six months after taking over from maths genius Carol Vorderman, Rachel has told how she is living her dream presenting one of the nation’s favourite quiz shows, Countdown.

The former pupil of Southend High School for Girls popped down to Southend, where she still lives when not filming the show, to launch the new Bosom Pals appeal to raise £750,000 to buy new equipment for Southend Hospital’s breast unit.

While Rachel is always cool and confident presenting the show with host Jeff Stelling, she admits to suffering an attack of the nerves occassionally.

She said: “I do get nervous. I practice the numbers game all the time, I’m such a geek.

“I also worry about my spelling a bit. We’ve had some amazing contestants who come up with words I've never heard of, I just have to hope I can spell them right.

“At school and university I did maths and science subjects, so my spelling has fallen by the wayside.”

Rachel, who divides her time between television studios in Manchester and her home in Thorpe Bay, said she loves her new job and the people she works with, including Mr Stelling, who made his name as a Sky Sports presenter.

Rachel said one of her funniest moments during her time on the show so far was when Strictly Come Dancing’s Anton du Beke appeared as a guest. She said: “He grabbed me and started spinning me around, but I’m so clumsy I stood on his foot. I can’t dance to save my life.”

Rachel said the dancer proved a bigger hit with her mum, Cynthia, who was watching in the audience.

The proud mum said: “Anton danced with me as well, it was fantastic.”

She added: “I now watch Countdown every day without fail, my maths has definitely improved!”

When asked about her predecessor, Carol Vorderman, and whether there was any rivalry between the two, Rachel said: “I’ve never met her, but she sent a lovely bunch of flowers before my first show.”

As far as first jobs go, Rachel said she couldn’t believe her luck when she discovered she had landed the role having only left University two months before.

She added she hopes for a long stay on Countdown and she is enjoying being recognised “I’ve been stopped a few times in Southend and it’s really lovely,” she said. “People have been so nice.”

RACHEL IS RIGHT BEHIND APPEAL

RACHEL threw her weight behind a major new drive to raise cash for Southend Hospital’s breast unit.

She showed her support at the launch of the Bosom Pals Appeal at Adventure Island on Southend seafront.

Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation joined forces with Bosom Pals, a locally run support group for people affected by breast cancer, to raise money for the campaign.

The appeal hopes to raise £750,000 so the NHS hospital can buy two of the latest hi-tech digital mammography machines for its breast unit.

The machines give more accurate, better quality and almost instantaneousimages of breast tissue.

Thanks to a cheque for £175,000 from Bosom Pals, the campaign is already well on its way.

Rachel said: “This is a great cause. Everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer, my great grandmother had it.

“It’s also nice to support the community.”

Philip Miller, owner of Adventure Island and treasurer for the Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation, put on half price rides for everyone and Southend ice cream maker Rossi’s donated the profits from a special pink vanilla ice cream sold at the event.