Anne Robinson to host Countdown

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

What do you think of the choice? I’m quite surprised she wants to take on a daily show at 76, but could for her - I think she’ll be good. It’s also great that such a TV institution will essentially be ‘led’ by women: and all women there on merit rather than as window dressing or to tick a box.

Good for her, not could for her.

They (as in the people who make the decisions about who should host quiz shows and the like) seem to have a very shallow pool of people to select from and while I like seeing more women on TV, I think getting Anne Robinson to host is a poor selection.
Is there nobody else?
It's either Davina McCaul or Philip Schofield or Holly Willoughby or Ant & Dec or Tess Daly or Claudia Winkleman or Sandy Toksvig.

There doesn't appear to be anyone different on our screens.

I'd like to see more diversity and (I'll probably getting slammed for saying this but I mean it in a non-ageist way) some fresh blood on the telly. They don't have to be 20-somethings but they do have to be new to the genre.

What about the lovely Irish chap who’s presenting it at the moment? Colin someone?

Nothing against Anne or any of the other people who dominate TV but I also think new people need to given more of a chance. The old hands had their day and made the money and name.

I think Tess Daly only hosts Strictly Come Dancing, not anything else.

Colin Murray hosting at the moment and the feedback has been positive. Maybe they wanted someone older?

Anyone will be better than Nick Hewer, he has been a truly presenter. So completely lacking in personality he sucks any fun out of that programme.

Oh thank God.

I absolutely hate Colin Murray hosting. He thinks he is on a sports show and never shuts the fuck up! Anyone would be better than him.

Lisa Tarbuck would have been ideal, but she is very overlooked for some reason.

All of the posts above mine (apart from mentioning Colin Murray who I don't think has been made a long term host of any show) are referring to celebrities who have hosted other programmes before.
Give us some fresh blood.

I believe that Gordon Ramsay is now hosting a quiz show...but that's not the way to go to get 'fresh blood' to host shows. I also think that Zoe Lyons is hosting a quiz show.
There are probably 100's or 1000's of people who would love to be given the opportunity to host a show or even be given a camera/screen test to try out and then the production companies could bring some new people along.

I do understand the ‘fresh blood’ argument, but realistically, it’s not going to happen with a show as high-profile as Countdown. Newcomers are more likely to get a chance on ITV2 or BBC Three.

I think she is utterly charmless, not like she can use the sarcastic acid tongue from weakest link. It could go either way. Personally I would have preferred someone younger. Anne must have dirt in her back pocket...

Ugh

I was pretty disappointed when I saw the announcement. We'll just have to wait and see if she brings any warmth to it.

Initially I wasn't a fan of Colin Murray, or the casual dress and slouching in a chair (my transition into my DM is evidently completely!) but actually quite liked him by the end of his stint.

Agree with pp it wouldn't be a completely new name for such a high profile show. Also suspect there would have been some sort of backlash if it was yet another male, but equally couldn't choose a female without substance because then she'd have been chosen (or alleged to have been chosen) 'just for being female'.

Hopefully she'll be either good or brief in the role.

Nick gave his reason for leaving as time to retire.
Both he and Anne Robinson were born in 1944.
I can't believe they've chosen someone just as old and known for her ascerbic wit (a cruel sense of humour and not very friendly on the Weakest Link) I don't like her, or her persona. I'll give it a go, but I'm so disappointed that she's going to be the new host.

I know she was supposed to be really cutting back when she hosted The Weakest Link but this type of questioning even for whenever this was originally aired (think it was late 1990's or early 2000's), why it wasn't stopped at that point is anyone's guess. She wasn't being cutting, she was being downright rude!

She asked the questions but the production team decided to leave them in and let them go to air.

Did no one do a background check on whether she might be suitable or not for hosting Countdown???? I seriously doubt that she has mellowed as she has grown older.

I can’t believe that clip!!

Like the Lisa Tarbuck suggestion, she was great on Taskmaster.

That clip is horrific.