Countdown’s Rachel Riley compares Anne Robinson to a ‘headmistress’ as she opens up about on-set ‘rift’
COUNTDOWN star Rachel Riley has opened up about how she enjoys working on the show more now that former host Anne Robinson has left.
Channel 4 fans of Countdown are no stranger to rumours of Anne and numbers superstar Rachel clashing while working together for 13 months on the show between 2021 and 2022.
Anne became the first female to take on the role and replaced Nick Hewer in June 2021 after he stepped down from 10 years in the hosting seat.
She then quit the show last summer after a long-reported rift between the pair, with Rachel allegedly debating whether or not to leave the show if Anne stayed.
An insider close to Rachel at the time said, “She has really struggled with Anne and been backed by Susie [Dent], who has seen it all first hand and has similar gripes.”
Appearing pleased with her new host, Colin Murray, Rachel believes fans can also see the difference.
“The viewers have noticed that it’s a different type of show now,” she said.
Speaking to The Daily Mail she continued: “Anne was a lot more headmistress style and that suits some people, and some people enjoyed it. I don’t think it’s any secret that I am enjoying working with Colin a lot more.
“She’s been in the industry a long time and she knows what she wants, so she decided to leave and good luck to her, but Countdown is not really about us, any of us could go and as long as the letters and numbers are still there… then that’s what the viewers want.”
She added: “I am not under any illusion that people watch it for me… they watch it because they like to play the game so long may that continue.”
Colin has said he never met the Weakest Link star but revealed previously that the “atmosphere” on set has been better since he took over.
Rachel continued: “It’s an original job, and I’m really lucky to be doing it. I still love it, and we have Colin Murray in the host seat now, and he’s a massive geek. He’s a bigger geek than me and Susie, we’re the cool ones in the team now… he’s like analysing every round.
“But then it’s translated because the viewers love him, and the viewing figures are really high, and the competitors coming on are having a great time.”
Countdown airs weekdays from 2:10pm on Channel 4.