Anne Robinson’s still got it. The razor-tongued queen of British television has unleashed another round of characteristically biting commentary — and this time, she’s taking aim at everything from workplace dynamics to modern broadcasting culture.
Speaking to The Telegraph as 2025 kicks off (and proving that turning 80 hasn’t dulled her edge one bit), Robinson addressed the swirling rumors about her brief stint on Countdown. The whole affair reads like something straight out of a BBC workplace comedy — except it’s all deliciously real.
Remember that supposed feud with Rachel Riley? Well, Robinson’s response was pure television gold. “It’s just a story,” she declared, before dropping what might be the most perfectly crafted non-denial denial in recent memory: “Rachel was a bit talkative when I was interviewing the contestants but once we shut her up it was fine.” Classic Robinson — saying the quiet part loud, as always.
The situation gets even juicier when you consider Riley’s earlier comments about working with Robinson. “You’re not going to get a sympathetic shoulder to cry on from Anne, but she might make you cry.” Honestly? That’s about as British as it gets — managing to confirm workplace tension while remaining polite enough to serve tea over.
But here’s where things get properly interesting. Robinson’s got bigger fish to fry than mere workplace drama. She’s taken aim at what she rather colorfully describes as “woke terrorists who are sucking the life blood out of the country.” (Nobody’s ever accused Anne of being too subtle, have they?)
The veteran presenter seems particularly miffed about current television programming. In what might be the most gloriously specific complaint of 2025 so far, she noted: “I’m disappointed that by 9 O’Clock, someone called Stacey is usually telling me how to tidy my wardrobe.” Poor Stacey Solomon — caught in the crossfire of Robinson’s war on modern telly.
Perhaps the most revealing bit? Robinson’s admission that she’d insisted on having Susie Dent and Rachel Riley’s microphones turned off during filming. It’s the sort of behind-the-scenes detail that speaks volumes about the clash between old-school broadcasting and contemporary approaches to television production.
Mind you, Robinson’s not completely burning bridges. She managed to slip in some genuine praise for her former colleagues — “They’re both brilliant at what they do… Channel 4 are incredibly lucky to have them” — before adding her characteristic qualifier about wanting “everyone turning up on time and quiet, quiet, quiet.” Because heaven forbid anyone mistake Anne Robinson for a softie.
The whole situation rather perfectly captures the ongoing evolution (or depending on your viewpoint, decline) of British television. While some might dismiss Robinson as increasingly out of touch, she’s raising some genuinely interesting questions about the direction of contemporary entertainment. Even if she is doing it with all the subtlety of a hammer to a china shop.
At the end of the day, Robinson remains gloriously, unapologetically herself — a reminder of an era when television personalities didn’t worry about causing the occasional stir. Whether that makes her a refreshing voice of clarity or simply yesterday’s news probably depends entirely on where you stand on the cultural changes she’s so determined to critique.
Though one thing’s for certain — she’s still absolutely brilliant at creating headlines. Some things never change, eh?
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