Pasha Kovalev is a Russian-born professional dancer best known in the UK for his long-running role on Strictly Come Dancing. He began dancing at the age of eight and later moved to the United States in 2001 with his dance partner Anya Garnis. Pasha joined Strictly in 2010, quickly becoming a fan favourite for his skill and charm. In 2019, he married Rachel Riley, the mathematician and presenter from Countdown.