Rachel Riley shares ‘newborn bliss’ as she welcomes baby

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley welcomes baby girl Maven, after unexpectedly giving birth in her bathroom.

Rachel Riley has announced the birth of her first child, a baby girl called Maven.

The Countdown presenter, who shared the news on Instagram, said the newborn arrived unexpectedly in the bathroom.

Riley posted a collection of images of her and her partner, ex-Strictly professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, holding the baby in their living room in front of a Christmas tree.

Showing the sleeping baby wearing a brightly coloured knitted rompersuit, with big white buttons, Riley wrote: “2 weeks after we were expecting her this little one finally made an appearance!

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

“After keeping us waiting she came so quickly we didn’t have a chance to get to the hospital and was born in our bathroom with our amazing doula and wonderful St Mary’s midwives rushing over to be with us in to be nick of time!

“She’s absolutely perfect and Pasha and I are in newborn bliss. Couldn’t be more in love”

She also posted a second close up image of the baby in her father’s arms, simply writing “Mave” and adding three double love heart emojis.

Riley, 33, and Kovaleva, 39, married in Las Vegas earlier this year after meeting when they danced together in series 11 of Strictly Come Dancing and making it to week five of the competition.

Pasha announced he would be leaving Strictly earlier this year, to “find a new challenge”.