Anne Robinson reveals surprising new job after quitting Countdown

ANNE Robinson has revealed she’s eyeing up a job on Match of the Day.

The 77-year-old shocked fans last night as she revealed she was quitting Countdown after just one year on the show.



Anne Robinson is eyeing up a job on Match of the Day after quitting Countdown


Anne wants to share a job with Gary Lineker

Anne, who was the first woman to host the show, now plans to disrupt male dominated football TV.

She told the Daily Mail: “I quite fancy a job share with Gary Lineker on Match of the Day. I mean, who needs a monopoly of blokes mansplaining football on a Saturday afternoon?”

And she ruled out doing reality TV, saying: “I have learned a new lesson which is saying “No”. I’m not going on Strictly, I’m not going to the jungle [for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here], I’m not doing Pointless and I’m not doing Masterchef.

“The channels have upped their game with ethnic diversity, but there’s not much evidence of putting older women on screen.”

Anne joined the Channel 4 quiz show last year joining Rachel Riley and Susie Dent, becoming its sixth presenter and recorded 265 episodes of the show.

Speaking about her decision to leave, she said: “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.”

She added: “I 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.

“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.”

She will appear in shows until the summer with a new host announced in due course, Channel 4 said.

Anne followed in the footsteps of Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam, Des O’Connor, Jeff Stelling and Nick Hewer as the presenter of Countdown, which launched in 1982.