No more Countdown for me.

Gyles Brandreth would be perfect. I think he's great. Haven't seen it with AR but I can imagine what's she's like. I bet poor little Susie Dent is terrified!

What a strange decision to make to use a 76 year old woman not only well past her best but with such an acid character
I m not a great countdown watcher but I ll have to have a look and see what you are all seeing

It seems a strange decision to choose someone who is controversial as it's meant to be a cosy programme unless they're trying to be 'edgy' - often a mistake in my opinion.

She was a good journalist in her day. Unfortunately that day was around 1975. She wrecked her career with The Sunday Times due to her dependence on alcohol. I sometimes think she believes she’s still that talented sharp-witted young woman that she was before the drink took over. Sad.

I caught a few minutes of it today and she was attacking the guest in dictionary corner. Didn’t catch her name but she’s a chef and restaurant critic, Anne was attacking her and the chef turned around and said she thought she was under attack. Good on her for calling Anne on her bullying. I hope channel 4 get rid of her quickly, she is really ruining a lovely programme. It was so nice to have a programme that had polite, well mannered, educated people on it.

I hardly ever watch it, a lifelong aversion to Vorderman might be the reason for that. But DH likes it so I have 'seen' it, if you know what I mean.
Has Paul O'Grady ever done it?
He might be good.
Or Liza Tarbuck.
It needs to be someone warm and reassuring.
It makes me cross when they make decisions which are blatantly stupid.

Its my favourite game show. I sit with pencil and paper and count my score.
Somehow it's not as enjoyable with Anne. Her personality doesn't really suit it. I miss Nick.

Have always loved Countdown, can’t bear to watch now with AR in the chair, no charisma or any other redeeming features tbh.

I agree Kali2 AR is unrecognisable from the person who did Weakest Link and as for her immobile face

Never quite seen such an über case of plastic surgery gone mad!

If Channel 4 wanted to kill off Countdown, they chose the right presenter. There is nothing likeable about Anne Robinson. I was incensed at her constantly harping on at that poor man's being an accountant. She seemed to have a 'thing' about accountants. If she was trying to establish a rapport, she was going the wrong way about it. And she can't smile - her face would crack.

Absolutely agree Fanny.

I don't really understand why she has gained such status.
She doesn't seem to me to be a good presenter; she's not likeable; and she certainly isn't funny.
She also has an air about her of thinking that she's quite the thing.

I think Anne Robinson will be the same, whatever programme she is presenting - maybe she is stuck in Crimewatch mode!

I haven't watched Countdown for years. But I do follow 8 out of 10 cats, with Jimmy Carr. It does have to come on late though, jokes not for children :-)

I agree Jane about the autism spectrum contestants. They are the ones that are absolutely brilliant and come up with words that no one has ever heard of.

Oh I didn't know that about Colin Murray. That's a good shout. He's lovely and so cheerful and witty.
Just what you want

I thought Colin Murray did a good job when he stood in for Nick whilst he was shielding.
I'm sure I read somewhere that Anne Robinson wanted to make some radical changes to the show. Hopefully she won't be allowed to insist on that. It works well as it is.

I agree with both of you.
To offer you a degree of hope, I don't think that she will last long.
It was obvious to many of us that the punters weren't going to take to her.
She will only do one series and then
they'll give it to Gyles Brandreth or another safe pair of hands.

I was surprised she was appointed tbh. Countdown isn't really a program where anyone, let alone the contestants, needs to be taken the piss out of. It has occurred to me before that some of the contestants maybe be on the autistic spectrum for example