Anne Robinson has issued a lengthy statement confirming her departure from Countdown, after being plagued by rumours that she has feuded with co-star Rachel Riley.
It was announced last year that The Weakest Link and Watchdog icon Anne was following in the footsteps of the likes of Countdown legend Richard Whiteley and other hosts like Des Lynam and Jeff Stelling by fronting the long-running Channel 4 show. Anne's taking over of the famous TV role saw the programme have a all female line-up with Rachel on the numbers and Susie Dent in dictionary corner.
But now, less than a year after she was announced as Countdown's new presenter, i's been confirmed that Anne will soon leave the job behind. And the 77-year-old has now issued her own statement as fans of the hit series speculate on the reason why. She wrote: "I've had a blast hosting this wonderful show. And I stayed longer than I signed up for. Now it is time for an older woman to take the reins."
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"In hope too I've encouraged TV bosses to realise that not all women at the wrong end of their seventies are in care homes playing bingo and watching conjuring tricks."
Anne, who has been at the helm of 265 episodes of Countdown added: "In fact the genius of Countdown is that it's a brilliant way to keep the brain exercised. I run 5k most days of the week. And I can now do an anagram at twice the speed I could this time last year. But I have grandchildren, a large garden and a home in New York, all deserving more of my attention."
Is is expected that Anne will seen on screen until the summer, with her replacement set to be announced shortly.
