Countdown star Rachel Riley announced the devastating death of a beloved family member as fans rushed to support her. On X, previously known as Twitter, Rachel posted a past clip from her Countdown days, in which she celebrated National Limerick Day by reciting a poem about her beloved cat Beasty. Now she has sadly announced that Beasty has died.

In the segment, host Colin Murray said: “We were messaging, weren’t we, in the WhatsApp – because we do a different subject every year. Rachel came up with a great one, which is our pets. So, Rach, you go first because it was your idea!”

Rachel then recited: “Okay, well mine is a tribute to Beasty. My big black cat did rarely purr / about the diet we imposed on her / her rations were killer / because she happened to mirror / a basketball covered in fur.”

Fans rushed to send her condolences, with one writing: “Ah, sorry to hear this Rachel. Pets give us many of the happiest moments in our lives – and one of the saddest.”

Another said: “How long ago was this filmed? Sorry to hear about your cat.”

“Lovely words and beautifully recited,” someone else posted, while a fourth penned: “Sorry for your loss.”

Rachel also shared a sweet picture of her holding a very large Beasty in her arms – looking just as fluffy as she was described in the limerick.