anne robinson is back.screen as the host of countdown. anne becomes the sixth person — and the first woman — to present the channel four show in its 39—year history — not that she has much truck weith that as our entertainment correspondent colin paterson found out hello and welcome to countdown. as you've probably guessed, i'm new but it does mean now three girls do countdown. today, when anne robinson takes over from nick hewer to become the sixth host of channel 4's countdown, a visit to the studio proved that she is already making herself at home. anne robinson in the countdown chair? how is it? i have had to adapt it because i'm much smaller than nick so there's a sort of platform coming out here that you won't have noticed and i'm right—handed. he was left—handed so i don't have the buzzer any more. this is all very interesting. technical. there is a hook for my handbag. i've been asking for weeks. i've been asking for weeks. the stat that keeps getting trotted out, you are the first woman to present

anne robinson's goodbye wink and unflinching style saw her branded as the 'queen of mean' during her in 39 years of it. when that's said, how does it make you feel? it made me feel cross because we should be past being surprised that it's a woman doing a job, shouldn't we? it's going to get mentioned, isn't it? yeah, but, you know, it shouldn't really, because if you've got the brains, what does it matter whether you're male or female? i know you're probably more likely to have the brains if yourfemale. are things changing in tv on that front? well, i'm still here, colin, and i'm 76 and three quarters, so something's going in the right direction. over in dictionary corner, susie dent has now worked with all six countdown hosts. if you were to pick one, perhaps unusual word to describe anne, what word would you go for? 0k. you've put me on the spot here. i would say that anne is both discombobulating and then recombobulating. so she kind of takes the rug from under you and you think, "help." and then she willjust very gently put you back on it. while on the other side of the studio, it

anne robinson's goodbye wink and unflinching style saw her branded as the 'queen of mean' during her going to get mentioned, isn't it? yeah, but, you know, it shouldn't, really. are things changing in tv on that front? well, i'm still here, colin and i'm 76 and three quarters so something is going on the right direction. over in dictionary corner, susie dent has now worked with all six countdown hosts. if you were to pick one perhaps unusual word to describe anne, what word would you go for? 0k. you have put me on the spot here. i would say that anne is both discombobulating and then re—combobulating. she takes the rug from under you and you think, "help." and then she willjust very gently put you back on it. while on the other side of the studio it's 12 years since rachel riley replaced carol vorderman. i've taken over your board. you have! how different is the show with anne? it's very different and it's also likely got a different set - of contestants because she gives them a grilling _ not quite weakest link style. she's toned it down for countdown, but she still gives them _ the