Rachel Riley reveals 'genius' packing hack to fit 700 holiday outfits in one suitcase
Thankfully, Countdown brainbox Rachel Riley has turned her mathematical genius to one of the biggest holiday conundrums travellers face - how to pack as much as possible into one suitcase.
The star, 39, who has two daughters with dancer husband Pasha Kovalev, says it's possible to create a whopping 700 looks from just three simple outfits packed for your travels.
Tech brand Philips challenged the TV star to help travellers ahead of the busy summer season, and she managed to conjure up 27 individual outfits from just three tops and three bottoms.
Doing the sums, Riley, who joined the popular quiz show as its numbers expert in 2009, said: 'That makes nine distinct looks. Chuck in three pairs of shoes and you're already up to 27 individual outfits.'
However turning 27 into 700 feels like a trickier proposition...but the Countdown star says it's all about accessories - and entirely achievable.
Riley, who's set to appear in daredevil reality show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters next year, explains: 'With every added optional accessory, you increase your options.
'So, just two additional choices of headwear, two statement necklaces and two pairs of sunglasses gives over 700 unique combinations to choose from.'
Research by the brand, which is promoting its £49.99 Philips' 5000 Series handheld steamer as a holiday essential, found that the average two-child family packs 48 outfits for a seven-day holiday.
While we often splash out on a new holiday wardrobe - around £200 per person, almost half of us, 42 per cent, say we don't actually end up wearing the clothes in our cases while away - and over a third of people say they've been hit by excess baggage fees at the airport.
And when it comes to being organised, it seems most British tourists don't actually get to grips with prepping their suitcase until the eleventh hour, with 85 per cent saying they only do it the night before they head off.
Overpacking remains common, with 63 per cent of the 2,000 asked by Philips about their suitcase packing habits admitting that they have to sit on top of their cases to force them to close.
Lamprini Fameli, Senior Product Manager at Philips, commented: 'Deciding what to pack for holiday is the ultimate conundrum.
'And with our new research demonstrating that we're a nation of chronic, last-minute over-packers, who better to solve this quandary than Rachel Riley?
'Her brilliant advice will help us all pack smarter this summer - freeing up space for holiday essentials.'
The Countdown maths whizz will join Amandaland's Lucy Punch and McFly's Dougie Poynter to take on sharks in an outrageous new reality series that makes I'm A Celebrity look tame.
Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters is due to hit our screens next year on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
The new series, which will coincide with 50th anniversary of Jaws, will see a bunch of famous faces, who are terrified of the sea, face their fears head on by taking a plunge surrounded by the scary predators.
Filming will take place in Bimini in the Bahamas - where 7-10 different types of sharks live on the island.
The celebrities who are confirmed to take part are Rachel, 39, Lucy, 47, Dougie, 37, Ade Adepitan, 52, Helen George, 40, Sir Lenny Henry, 66, and Ross Noble, 48.
The official press release states: 'The show will dare a group of ocean-phobic celebrities to confront their greatest fear – sharks.'
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