Fans are expressing dismay at the reported feud between the three leading ladies at Countdown.
Over the weekend it was reported that new host Anne Robinson, 77, is at loggerheads with maths whizz Rachel Riley, 35, and lexicographer Susie Dent, 56, with an uncomfortable atmosphere’ erupting since she took on the role.
Staff at Media City studios in Salford claim that off-camera, there’s tension over Anne’s ‘rather grand ways’, which have earned her the nickname ‘Queen Anne’.
On Monday, fans flooded Twitter with speculation over the row, with social media users writing: ‘Doesn’t surprise me at all, with the stilted, awkward, toe-curlingness of the atmosphere… Not surprised there’s a personality clash’.
Shock: The reported behind-the-scenes feud between the trio of leading ladies at Countdown has set tongues wagging among fans (Rachel Riley, Anne Robinson, Susie Dent L-R)
Twitter users took a firm position on news of the feud but also enjoyed watching the scenes unfold in this week’s shows.
Viewers wrote: ‘Be interesting to watch #countdown today, following this weekend’s news reports that Rachel Riley & Susie Dent don’t get on with Anne Robinson…
“It doesn’t surprise me at any, with the stilted and awkward, toe-curling atmosphere. AR has the personality a lead brick…
‘Not surprised there’s a personality clash on countdown. Anne Robinson is dreadful – it’s all about her and not the contestants and the other presenters. She’s made it unwatchable @Channel4…
Not happy: On Monday, fans flooded Twitter with speculation over the row, with social media users writing: ‘Doesn’t surprise me at all, with the stilted, awkward, toe-curlingness of the atmosphere… Not surprised there’s a personality clash’
Countdown was my favorite programme, but I had to stop watching it since Anne Robinson joined. She’s a bully and obnoxious and she’s nasty. What were you thinking? #TeamRachelRiley… @RachelRileyRR
Anne Robinson is a bully, a diva. Because she’s so rude, I have stopped watching Countdown. We hope you can get rid her. Go girl!
Resident lexicographer Susie is said to have sided with Rachel in what is seen by some as a ‘young versus old’ divide.
Lost for words: Anne (above), Rachel barely speak off-camera. Staff at Media City studios claim that off-camera, there’s tension over Ms Robinson’s ‘rather grand ways’
An insider told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The tension between Rachel and Anne is being openly discussed. It is very much Rachel and Susie against Anne – a case of two camps.
“Lots and lots of crew are discussing the situation. Rachel and Susie don’t care much for Anne and her rather grand ways and things have become pretty uncomfortable.
‘Anne likes to do things her way, while Rachel doesn’t go along with how she operates. This has now led to little social interaction between them away from the cameras.’
Tense: Sources on set report an ‘awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere’ between the former Weakest Link presenter and the programme’s maths whizz, Rachel (pictured in May 2019)
Colleagues also claim Anne who presented her first show in June, ‘doesn’t mix with anyone’ and brings her own stylist and make-up artist to the studios.
Susie, a graduate of Oxford, recently split with her husband Paul Atkins. She is close friends with Rachel, who also went to the same university.
Anne has never hidden her dislike for the young, woke crowd. Interviewed before she replaced Nick Hewer as host of the show, she said: ‘I am fed up with it… I just think we’re being told what to do by people who aren’t in a position to tell us what to do.’
Close: Oxford graduate Susie who recently split from her husband of 20 years, Paul Atkins, is understood to be close friends with Rachel who went to the same university
Rachel, who is currently pregnant with her second child, is being attacked by hard-left activists for her campaign against antisemitism within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.
Rachel said of the social-media trolls: ‘They were so abusive. I’ve developed a thick skin but now I never see a lot of things, even nice stuff, which is a shame because I used to use Twitter to help children with maths homework.’
Channel 4 did not comment on the weekend.