ANNE ROBINSON QUITS COUNTDOWN AFTER ONE YEAR PRESENTING

Anne Robinson has quit as the host of Channel 4's daytime quiz Countdown after just one year in the role.

Anne said: “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, Countdown continues weekdays at 2:10pm on Channel 4.