Rachel Riley has appeared to make a swipe at her Countdown co-star Anne Robinson as she celebrated with a toast after the host’s exit.
Anne, 77, took to the helm of the Channel 4 quiz show last year, after Nick Hewer stepped down from the role.
However, the legendary broadcaster revealed her exit after recording just 265 episodes, admitting she’d stayed ‘longer than I signed up for.’
It came amid claims of a feud between the former Weakest Link presenter and co-star Rachel, 36, who seemed excited about the future of the programme after Anne’s departure was announced.
On her Instagram account, she shared a selfie beaming to the camera, while holding a glass of wine in her hand.
Next to the snap, she penned: ‘Drinking a toast to the next chapter in Countdown history.
‘I think you’re going to like it,’ she teased
It comes as Anne denied rumours of a rift between herself and her co-star, but admitted to claims she asked for mics to be turned off – which emerged last year.
Chatting to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, she said of Rachel and Susie Dent: ‘They’re both brilliant at what they do. I mean they really, really are. Channel 4 are incredibly lucky to have them. And there isn’t a rift.
‘It was me wanting everyone to be quiet in the studio. I like everyone turning up on time and quiet, quiet, quiet. So we did have to iron that out. But that’s it.
‘I think we all came to an agreement that we would have mics off before we went into a record, which gave me time to have a chat with the contestants – that’s all – and remind them what their hobbies are.’
Describing the numbers whizz, she added: ‘She is brilliant at those numbers, what else can I say.’
Rachel was also forced to dismiss reports of a ‘feud’ between her and co-star Anne, telling ITV’s Lorraine back in November that people should ‘not believe tabloids.’
Announcing her departure, 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 shared, announcing her exit from the game show.
‘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,’ she said.
The star admitted her decision to quit also came in part due to not wanting to be on the Channel 4 payroll.
Speaking to The Sun, she confessed she was originally employed on a freelance basis, commenting: ‘I come from a long line of alcoholic, Irish bandits so to suggest I go PAYE is a bit like asking Philip Green or Richard Branson to join the company payroll.
‘I wasn’t interested in any offer on that basis. Even if it included financial parity. I will, however, miss out on the Channel 4 luncheon vouchers, which is a big regret.’
Countdown airs weekdays from 2.10pm on Channel 4.
Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.
