Rachel Riley has responded to Anne Robinson’s recent comments about their relationship on Channel 4’s Countdown, fuelling rumours of a feud between the presenting pair

Anne Robinson claimed that she had to “shut up” Rachel Riley on Countdown

Countdown star Rachel Riley has hit back at Anne Robinson’s claim that she had to “shut her up” on the Channel 4 show. The pair worked together for a year on Countdown together, during which time there were rumours of a feud between the stars.

In a recent chat with the Telegraph, Anne refuted claims of a rift, but said: “It’s just a story. Rachel was a bit talkative when I was interviewing the contestants but once we shut her up it was fine.” Now, Rachel has hit back at Anne’s comments with a short, blunt rebuttal.

Anne Robinson hosted Countdown for a year

Speaking at the Women’s Football Awards last week, Rachel told The Sun: “If Anne needs to mention me for publicity then good luck to her.”

She added: “I have the same opinion of her as most people do. I don’t pay any attention to what she says.”

Anne hosted Countdown between June 2021 and July 2022, with the star previously revealing that she left the show over a pay dispute. She said that despite being offered a pay rise, she did not want to join Channel 4’s payroll and so decided to step down from the presenting role.

Rachel has opened up about her working relationship with Anne in the past and once made a telling remark about the presenting making people cry.

Rachel Riley has now hit back at Anne Robinson’s claim(Image: Channel 4)

On how the atmosphere was different when Colin Murray replaced Anne in July 2022, she said: “It’s very different. Each presenter has their own style, and you don’t always gel with everybody that you work with. Well, you’re not going to get a sympathetic shoulder to cry on from Anne, but she might make you cry.”

Anne recently opened up about mortality, with the 80-year-old saying that she thinks about it “quite a lot”. She said: “I look at the obituaries saying, oh, golly, they went at 70, they went at 72. But then the other day there was a woman who died at 116.

“So what I do is I try to keep fit, and live in the day and be grateful for wonderful grandsons, my daughter and my son in law, although he supports Everton, but you can’t have everything… And I love clothes. I keep buying clothes, I don’t think, Oh, well, I won’t need any soon.”

She added: “Medically, and in our heads, we’ve just progressed a great deal. If you look at Jane Fonda, I don’t know she must be 83, 84, and she’s looking fantastic. It’s why, when I had a facelift, I immediately said that I’d had one, because I didn’t want people who are my age to think, why don’t I look like her with no lines? I’ve just thrown money at my face. Not sure it’s working anymore… But not everyone has those options. I have been very lucky.”