Rachel Riley has reportedly threatened to quit Countdown unless Anne Robinson is disciplined for muting her microphone amid secret backstage tensions.
The Weakest Link host, 77, allegedly turned off her 35-year-old 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.'
Leaving? Rachel Riley has reportedly threatened to quit Countdown unless Anne Robinson is disciplined for muting her microphone amid secret backstage tensions
The source said that Rachel's maternity leave couldn't have come at a bettertime as tensions continued to rise on the show.
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. - MailOnline has contacted Anne, Rachel, and Channel 4's representatives for comment.
Drama: The Weakest Link host allegedly turned off her co-star's mic after becoming irritated by the host's small talk
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.
Ouch: Clare Balding has 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)
'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?
'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…”.'
Frenemies: 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 (pictured together in Salford)
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"'
Shock: Tensions rose after Anne reportedly becoming irritated by Rachel's small talk (Rachel Riley, Anne Robinson, Susie Dent L-R)
The drama emerged after Anne reportedly turned off her co-star Rachel's microphone on set after becoming irritated by the host's small talk.
She is allegedly at loggerheads with the maths whizz and lexicographer Susie with an uncomfortable atmosphere' erupting since she took on the role.
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'.
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)
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