Anne Robinson steps down from Countdown

2 May 2022

After a year and 265 episodes in the hot seat Anne Robinson has announced she is stepping down from Countdown.

Anne 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 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."

A spokesperson for the show said “Quick-witted Anne has been a brilliant host on this iconic show.”

Countdown was the first programme to broadcast on Channel 4. It has been on air in the afternoons since its November 1982 launch making it one of the longest running quiz shows in the world. 

Anne was the show’s sixth host, and the first female to fill the hotseat on the long-running programme. She will appear in shows until the summer. A new host will be announced in due course.