Anne Robinson cuts a sombre figure while leaving Countdown studio in the wake of Rachel Riley feud

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    Anne Robinson cut a sombre figure as she left the Countdown studio in London on Tuesday following an afternoon of filming.

    The presenter, 77, dressed down in a navy coat teamed with a red sports cap as she made a low-key exit from the studio.

    Meanwhile, Rachel Riley told how Anne was far from ‘cuddly’ as she opened up about her working relationship with her co-star amid ongoing reports of a bitter feud between them.

    Why so serious: Anne Robinson cut a sombre figure as she left the Countdown studio in London on Tuesday following an afternoon of filming

    Why so serious: Anne Robinson cut a sombre figure as she left the Countdown studio in London on Tuesday following an afternoon of filming

    The former Weakest Link host wrapped up against the cold as she added a red and white gingham scarf to her look.

    Anne added black velvet joggers and white and leopard print trainers, while she carried her day’s essentials in a large straw bag, while also carrying a smaller red bag.

    The TV star looked serious as she wrapped her arms about herself as she walked, before happily stopping to sign an autograph for a fan.

    Anne’s outing comes as Rachel risked adding fuel to the fire amid their alleged backstage feud as she opened up about what it’s like working with Anne, who joined Countdown as the new host earlier this year.

    Bundled up: The presenter, 77, dressed down in a navy coat teamed with a red sports cap as she made a low-key exit from the studio

    Bundled up: The presenter, 77, dressed down in a navy coat teamed with a red sports cap as she made a low-key exit from the studio

    Speaking about Anne, she told OK! magazine: ‘She found her feet very quickly and soon made the show her own. She’s comfortable bantering with the contestants.

    ‘She’s called out some comedians and you can tell they’re up for a fight. They come in with their lines prepared. She’s not known for suffering fools gladly.’

    But when asked if Anne could be deemed as cuddly off-screen, she replied: ‘I don’t think anyone would describe Anne as cuddly. She’s very matter-of-fact. To be honest though, due to the pandemic we haven’t been able to socialise like we normally would.’

    Greeting: The TV star looked serious as she wrapped her arms about herself as she walked, before happily stopping to sign an autograph for a fan

    Greeting: The TV star looked serious as she wrapped her arms about herself as she walked, before happily stopping to sign an autograph for a fan

    The maths whizz, who recently gave birth to her second child, went on to say that the pair have ‘separate dressing rooms’ so don’t have the chance to interact before a show. 

    MailOnline has reached out to representatives for Riley, Robinson and Channel 4 for comment. 

    It comes amid the latest claims about fractious backstage relations.  

    According to reports, Riley has hinted she plans to breastfeed her second child on the show’s set, despite Robinson having previously muted her microphone because she was ‘tired of hearing her talking to contestants’. 

    Comments: Anne's outing comes as Rachel risked adding fuel to the fire amid their alleged backstage feud as she opened up about what it's like working with Anne (pictured with newborn daughter Noa)

    Comments: Anne’s outing comes as Rachel risked adding fuel to the fire amid their alleged backstage feud as she opened up about what it’s like working with Anne (pictured with newborn daughter Noa)

    The Sun reports that Riley – who shares 18-month-old Maven with Kovalev – said: ‘When you have a newborn, and especially when you have a toddler as well, you don’t have time for a shower.’ 

    She added of her January return to Countdown: ‘So when I get back to work someone will be paid to do my hair and make-up. 

    ‘You don’t recognise yourself the first time you go back because you’ve just been in mum mode and haven’t washed your hair for a while.’

    Rachel’s comments suggest her newborn will be accompanying her to the studio, with The Sun noting she will likely ‘feed the baby on filming breaks’.

    Feud: The latest update on the alleged feud came on Sunday when it was claimed that things could heat up as Rachel prepares to welcome her second child  (pictured in June)

    Feud: The latest update on the alleged feud came on Sunday when it was claimed that things could heat up as Rachel prepares to welcome her second child  (pictured in June)

    Reports: According to reports, maths whizz Riley has hinted she plans to breastfeed her second child on the show's set, despite Robinson having previously muted her microphone

    Reports: According to reports, maths whizz Riley has hinted she plans to breastfeed her second child on the show’s set, despite Robinson having previously muted her microphone

    It was reported on Thursday that Riley has threatened to quit Countdown unless Robinson is disciplined for muting her microphone amid secret backstage tensions.

    The Weakest Link host allegedly turned off her co-star’s mic after becoming irritated by the host’s small talk. 

    An insider told The Sun: ‘Rachel and Anne had clashed for some time and for Rachel, enough is enough. She has moaned about Anne a number of times and even said she would consider walking away from Countdown if the issues weren’t sorted.’

    The source said that Rachel’s maternity leave couldn’t have come at a better time as tensions continued to rise on the show.

    Heating up: It was reported on Thursday that Riley has threatened to quit Countdown unless Robinson is disciplined for muting her microphone amid secret backstage tensions

    Heating up: It was reported on Thursday that Riley has threatened to quit Countdown unless Robinson is disciplined for muting her microphone amid secret backstage tensions

    Awkward: The Weakest Link host allegedly turned off her Riley's mic after becoming irritated by the host's small talk

    Awkward: The Weakest Link host allegedly turned off her Riley’s mic after becoming irritated by the host’s small talk 

    The insider revealed: ‘Rachel just wants to be treated with more respect and she expects it to be different when she returns to filming.’  

    ‘No one wants to lose Rachel because she brings glamour and fun to the show, as well as being an absolute whizz at maths.’

    Rachel has reportedly been supported by the Dictionary Corner star Susie Dent, 56, during the spat.

    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’. 

    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. 

    Maternity leave: The source said that Rachel's maternity leave couldn't have come at a better time as tensions between her and Robinson continue to rise on the show

    Maternity leave: The source said that Rachel’s maternity leave couldn’t have come at a better time as tensions between her and Robinson continue to rise on the show

    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.

    Anne has made no secret of her disdain for the young, woke brigade. 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.’

    Meanwhile, Rachel has been targeted by hard-Left activists who have attacked her for campaigning against antisemitism in 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 declined to comment at the time.

    Queen Anne: Staff at Media City studios in Salford claim that off-camera, there's tension over Anne's'rather grand ways' (pictured leaving filming for the show)

    Queen Anne: Staff at Media City studios in Salford claim that off-camera, there’s tension over Anne’s ‘rather grand ways’ (pictured leaving filming for the show) 

    It comes as Clare Balding revealed on Thursday that Anne fat-shamed her on an episode of the Weakest Link, which prompted her to call the presenter a ‘crusty old cow’.

    Talking to Gabby Logan on her The Mid-Point podcast, Clare said Anne had constantly asked her ‘who ate all the cookies?’ in reference to her weight gain since her days as an amateur jockey.

    Clare explained: ‘Many years ago I did The Weakest Link when she was presenting it, and I got through to a head to head against Graeme Le Saux who as you will know is very very bright. Luckily I did okay and I won.

    ‘Through the course of it, Anne had been very cutting and had talked a bit about when I was an amateur jockey, and why did I give up? I said: “look at me, I got too heavy, right.” So then she would constantly use the line of “who ate too many cookies?

    Ouch: Clare Balding revealed Anne fat-shamed her on an episode of the Weakest Link, which prompted her to call the presenter a'crusty old cow' (pictured in 2019)

    Ouch: Clare Balding revealed Anne fat-shamed her on an episode of the Weakest Link, which prompted her to call the presenter a ‘crusty old cow’ (pictured in 2019) 

    ‘I said in the interview at the end: “Well, Anne used my weight as a stick to beat me with, but if that makes the crusty old cow happy, that’s fine!” I thought “they’ll never use that.”

    ‘It goes out and they used that as the last line, and I thought “oh god…”.’

    She continued: ‘Two days later I got a handwritten letter on lovely headed paper from Gloucestershire. “Dear Clare, I watched your edition of The Weakest Link. You sparkled, and your intelligence and wit…”

    ‘It was all really nice and I thought: “Thank God she didn’t see the interview at the end.”

    ‘I turned over the page and it said: “I do hope we work together soon. With love, the Crusty Old Cow”‘.

    An insider said:'Rachel and Anne had clashed for some time and for Rachel, enough is enough' (pictured with her husband Pasha Kovalev and their daughter Maven)

    An insider said: ‘Rachel and Anne had clashed for some time and for Rachel, enough is enough’ (pictured with her husband Pasha Kovalev and their daughter Maven)

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