Anne Robinson
Encyclopedia
Anne Josephine Robinson (born 26 September 1944) is an English journalist and television presenter, known for her assertive views and acerbic style of presenting. She was one of the presenters on the long-running British consumer affairs series, Watchdog
, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009. She gained notoriety as the hostess
of the BBC
television game show
The Weakest Link
which has earned her the nickname "Queen of Mean". She is due to finish presenting Weakest Link in 2012 when her contract ends.
, (then Lancashire
, now Merseyside
), near Liverpool
, Anne Robinson is of Irish descent. Her father was a school teacher, while her mother Anne Josephine Robinson (née Wilson), who was an alcoholic, was an agricultural businesswoman from Ireland, where she was the manager of a market stall. When she came to England she married into her husband's family of wholesale chicken dealers, and sold rationed rabbit after World War II
.
Raised initially at the family home in Crosby, Robinson attended a private Roman Catholic convent
Boarding School
in Hampshire
, Farnborough
Hill School. She was hired as a chicken gutter and sales person during the holidays in the family business, before taking office jobs at a law firm. The family spent their summers on holiday in France, often at the Carlton Hotel, Cannes
.
, she arrived in London in 1967 as the first young female trainee on the Daily Mail
. Robinson's mother's going-away present to her daughter was an MG
sportscar and a fur coat. Robinson secured a permanent position as a result of scooping the details of the story of Brian Epstein
's death from being a family friend of the Liverpool solicitor handling the legalities, offering him a ride to Euston station
when he couldn't find an available taxi.
Her work became more uncomfortable for her when she met and fell in love with the deputy news editor, Charlie Wilson
, and the two got married in 1968 — he subsequently had to fire her as a result of the marriage. Robinson joined The Sunday Times
, and in 1970 the couple had a daughter, Emma Wilson, who is now a British radio disc jockey
and has also hosted Scaredy Camp
, a game show in the USA on the Nickelodeon
network. In 1973, the marriage disintegrated after Robinson, like her mother, became an alcoholic. That same year, both Robinson and Wilson initiated divorce proceedings.
In December 1978, she resigned from The Sunday Times and returned home to Crosby
to recover from her alcoholism. She then began working for the Liverpool Echo
.
in 1980, working as columnist and Assistant Editor of the Daily Mirror from the week that the Falklands War
started. She also wrote a column under the pseudonym
of the "Wednesday Witch," in which she developed her vitriolic style.
During her career as a newspaper journalist, she developed a flair for writing tabloid headlines. On 14 November 1982 Robinson attended a formal dinner attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II, at which she noted that Diana, Princess of Wales
arrived late. Robinson asked the Mirror's Royal Editor James Whitaker
to investigate, and after conversations with various sources including Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale
, confirmed Diana was suffering from an eating disorder, named as anorexia
in a scoop article on 19 November. As a result, Buckingham Palace
Press Secretary, Michael Shea, rang then Mirror editor Mike Molloy
to remove Robinson. Robinson was subsequently removed from the editorial rota, and was advised by Malloy to "do more television blossom, that's what you're good at."
Robinson has written a weekly column for a succession of other British newspapers, such as Today
, The Sun
, The Express
, The Times
; and currently The Daily Telegraph
.
. From 1986, she began sitting in for regular presenter Barry Took
on television viewers show Points of View
, taking over permanently in 1988 for 11 years. In 1993, she took over the presentation and writing of consumer affairs television programme Watchdog
. She also presented a weekly show on BBC Radio 2
on Saturday mornings, which ran from 1988 to 1993. She returned to the station briefly in 1996, sitting in for Jimmy Young
on the Lunchtime slot for two weeks.
Robinson is best known in the UK for hosting the British version of The Weakest Link
. Similarly, in the United States she is best known for hosting the NBC
primetime version of Weakest Link. She originally started with an icy, mysterious appearance and persona, remaining indifferent to funny and friendly moments throughout; however, that has toned down much over the years, with her often smiling and on occasion laughing, especially on the celebrity episodes. Her usage of insults and caustic remarks as well as personal questions delivered to contestants, has become infamous on The Weakest Link. Her repeated blunt utterance, "You are the weakest link — goodbye!" became a catchphrase soon after the show started in 2000. Her Weakest Link persona has been likened to that of Judge Judy
. Though comparable to Simon Cowell
of the UK's Pop Idol
and American Idol
in the US, Robinson is disliked by Cowell, who commented in an interview "I hate her and I hate her show because it's just an act." Asked by the Duke of Edinburgh
to present some Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, she agreed subject to his taking part in the Weakest Link – the Duke declined. In 2005, she made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
, admitting she had been an unfit mother.
Robinson hosted the BBC's outtakes programme Outtake TV
until 2009. She currently hosts a satirical news-based chat show on BBC One called What's the Problem? With Anne Robinson, and the BBC's interactive quiz, Test the Nation
. In 2006, Robinson was ranked number 46 in the ITV poll of TV's 50 Greatest Stars
. She was also voted the second most terrifying celebrity on television in a 2006 Radio Times
poll of 3,000 people.
In May 2009, it was announced Robinson would return to present BBC One's long-running consumer show, Watchdog. In April 2011, Robinson confirmed that she will quit presenting Weakest Link in 2012 after spending eleven years as the host of 1,690 shows.
on 5 March 2001. Robinson's comments about Welsh people
, such as "What are they for?", "I never did like them", and even suggesting that Prince Philip also disliked them, were perceived as derogatory. This caused an outcry and accusations of racism. After four senior officers from North Wales Police
spent 96 hours investigating the issue, she apologised for the comments and agreed to do promotional work for the Wales Tourist Board to encourage people to visit the country. In addition to this, BBC2 show Robot Wars
also saw a protest against these remarks by Welsh robot Mega Morg, who placed a picture of Robinson on the front of the robot in the hope it would get destroyed.
In the same show, she put comedian Ben Elton
into Room 101 in protest at his hosting the Royal Variety Performance. She argued that he should be sent to the room "for being a total and utter hypocrite and going back on everything he stood for in the 80s and 90s". In April 2002, Robinson was then placed into the Room 101 bin by Jessica Stevenson
who said she couldn't stand Robinson's bare-faced cheek for insulting people on her show; she then went on to say that Robinson reminded her to a certain "German dictator who also hated his own people", as Liverpool was so close to Wales, the black leather outfit, her short hair, and moustache and then had another swip at Robinson for using Botox; "she's not exactly an oil painting is she"; she looks rather tired.
The BBC received 16 complaints after Robinson asked wine connoisseur Olly Smith
, who was competing on the celebrity version of The Weakest Link, to feel her breasts, after he described her as a "full-bodied, expensive red". The programme was broadcast Saturday 5 April 2008 on BBC One.
Robinson caused controversy on The Weakest Link when she made Blue Peter
legend John Noakes
cry after asking "What happened to Shep? Did he die or just run away?" Shep had been Noakes's pet both on and off Blue Peter.
Robinson is a vocal supporter of foxhunting
and, prior to it being banned
in 2004, was a key supporter of the pro hunt cause. The Guardian
claims she has also ridden with the White Horse Foxhunt. In an interview with Radio Times
in September 2000, Robinson was asked what her first act as world leader would be, replying "I'd lock up all the hunt saboteurs because they are destructive. They are campaigning about something of which they know nothing."
In February 2002, she hosted a spin-off version of The Weakest Link in Cirencester
to raise funds for the local White Horse Hunt. The event was picketed by around 100 protesters from The League Against Cruel Sports
, however around 70 animal rights
activists returning from another demonstration
joined the picket, culminating in a near riot
. The event eventually went ahead after Anne Robinson was escorted into the venue by local police.
An admitted alcoholic
, she stopped drinking on 12 December 1978 after picking her daughter up from school and driving to a petrol station to buy a bottle of vodka
.
Robinson married journalist John Penrose in 1980. On 30 September 2007, the couple announced that they were planning to divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences".
In 2001, she published her autobiography
, Memoirs of an Unfit Mother, in which she describes her former drinking problem.
Robinson has two grandchildren.
Watchdog (TV series)
Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK...
, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009. She gained notoriety as the hostess
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
which has earned her the nickname "Queen of Mean". She is due to finish presenting Weakest Link in 2012 when her contract ends.
Biography
Born in CrosbyCrosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Lancashire it is situated north of Bootle, south of Southport, Formby and west of Netherton-History:...
, (then Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, now Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
), near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Anne Robinson is of Irish descent. Her father was a school teacher, while her mother Anne Josephine Robinson (née Wilson), who was an alcoholic, was an agricultural businesswoman from Ireland, where she was the manager of a market stall. When she came to England she married into her husband's family of wholesale chicken dealers, and sold rationed rabbit after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Raised initially at the family home in Crosby, Robinson attended a private Roman Catholic convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
Boarding School
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
Hill School. She was hired as a chicken gutter and sales person during the holidays in the family business, before taking office jobs at a law firm. The family spent their summers on holiday in France, often at the Carlton Hotel, Cannes
Carlton Hotel, Cannes
The InterContinental Carlton Cannes is a 343-room luxury hotel built in 1911, located at 58 La Croisette in Cannes on the French Riviera and listed by the Government of France as a National Historic Building...
.
Early career
On leaving school, Robinson chose journalism over training for the theatre. After working in a news agencyNews agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
, she arrived in London in 1967 as the first young female trainee on the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
. Robinson's mother's going-away present to her daughter was an MG
MG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
sportscar and a fur coat. Robinson secured a permanent position as a result of scooping the details of the story of Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
's death from being a family friend of the Liverpool solicitor handling the legalities, offering him a ride to Euston station
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
when he couldn't find an available taxi.
Her work became more uncomfortable for her when she met and fell in love with the deputy news editor, Charlie Wilson
Charles Wilson (journalist)
Charles Wilson is a Scottish journalist and newspaper executive.Charlie Wilson was Managing Director of Mirror Group plc from 1992 to 1998, having been Editorial Director of Mirror Group Newspapers from 1991 to 1992...
, and the two got married in 1968 — he subsequently had to fire her as a result of the marriage. Robinson joined The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, and in 1970 the couple had a daughter, Emma Wilson, who is now a British radio disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and has also hosted Scaredy Camp
Scaredy Camp
Scaredy Camp is a reality show that aired on Nickelodeon, hosted by Emma Wilson . Season one ran from October 27, 2002 - November 3, 2002...
, a game show in the USA on the Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
network. In 1973, the marriage disintegrated after Robinson, like her mother, became an alcoholic. That same year, both Robinson and Wilson initiated divorce proceedings.
In December 1978, she resigned from The Sunday Times and returned home to Crosby
Crosby, Merseyside
Crosby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. Historically part of Lancashire it is situated north of Bootle, south of Southport, Formby and west of Netherton-History:...
to recover from her alcoholism. She then began working for the Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
.
First female editor
Robinson returned to Fleet StreetFleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
in 1980, working as columnist and Assistant Editor of the Daily Mirror from the week that the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
started. She also wrote a column under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of the "Wednesday Witch," in which she developed her vitriolic style.
During her career as a newspaper journalist, she developed a flair for writing tabloid headlines. On 14 November 1982 Robinson attended a formal dinner attended by HM Queen Elizabeth II, at which she noted that Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
arrived late. Robinson asked the Mirror's Royal Editor James Whitaker
James Whitaker
James Whitaker is a British journalist, specialising in the British royal family.-Biography:Formerly a pupil at Cheltenham College, Whitaker is best known as the Royal Editor of the Daily Mirror. He broke the story of the eating disorder of Diana, Princess of Wales...
to investigate, and after conversations with various sources including Diana's sister Lady Sarah McCorquodale
Lady Sarah McCorquodale
The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia McCorquodale is the older sister of Diana, Princess of Wales.-Early life:Sarah was born The Honourable Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer; she acquired the courtesy title The Lady Elizabeth Sarah Lavinia Spencer in 1975, when her grandfather died and her father became...
, confirmed Diana was suffering from an eating disorder, named as anorexia
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
in a scoop article on 19 November. As a result, Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
Press Secretary, Michael Shea, rang then Mirror editor Mike Molloy
Mike Molloy
Mike Molloy is a British author and former newspaper editor and cartoonist.Born in Hertfordshire, Molloy studied at Ealing Junior School and the Ealing School of Art before working at the Sunday Pictorial followed by the Daily Sketch, where he began drawing cartoons...
to remove Robinson. Robinson was subsequently removed from the editorial rota, and was advised by Malloy to "do more television blossom, that's what you're good at."
Robinson has written a weekly column for a succession of other British newspapers, such as Today
Today (UK newspaper)
Today was a national newspaper in the United Kingdom, which was published between 1986 and 1995.-History:Today, with the American newspaper USA Today as inspiration, launched on Tuesday, 4 March 1986, with the front page headline, "Second Spy Inside GCHQ". At 18 pence, it was a middle-market...
, The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
, The Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
; and currently The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
.
Television
Robinson began appearing on BBC television in 1982, initially as an occasional panellist on Question TimeQuestion Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
. From 1986, she began sitting in for regular presenter Barry Took
Barry Took
Barry Took was an English comedian, writer and television presenter. He is best remembered in the UK for his weekly role as presenter of Points of View, a BBC TV programme in which viewers' letters criticising or praising the BBC were broadcast...
on television viewers show Points of View
Points of View
Points of View is a long-running television show shown in the United Kingdom on BBC One, featuring the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and purportedly witty observations on the television of recent weeks...
, taking over permanently in 1988 for 11 years. In 1993, she took over the presentation and writing of consumer affairs television programme Watchdog
Watchdog (TV series)
Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK...
. She also presented a weekly show on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
on Saturday mornings, which ran from 1988 to 1993. She returned to the station briefly in 1996, sitting in for Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young
Jimmy Young may refer to:*Jimmy Young *Jimmy Young , singer -See also:*Jim Young *James Young...
on the Lunchtime slot for two weeks.
Robinson is best known in the UK for hosting the British version of The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
. Similarly, in the United States she is best known for hosting the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
primetime version of Weakest Link. She originally started with an icy, mysterious appearance and persona, remaining indifferent to funny and friendly moments throughout; however, that has toned down much over the years, with her often smiling and on occasion laughing, especially on the celebrity episodes. Her usage of insults and caustic remarks as well as personal questions delivered to contestants, has become infamous on The Weakest Link. Her repeated blunt utterance, "You are the weakest link — goodbye!" became a catchphrase soon after the show started in 2000. Her Weakest Link persona has been likened to that of Judge Judy
Judge Judy
Judge Judy is an American court show featuring former family court judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating over small claims cases in small claims court...
. Though comparable to Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
of the UK's Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in the US, Robinson is disliked by Cowell, who commented in an interview "I hate her and I hate her show because it's just an act." Asked by the Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
to present some Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, she agreed subject to his taking part in the Weakest Link – the Duke declined. In 2005, she made an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, admitting she had been an unfit mother.
Robinson hosted the BBC's outtakes programme Outtake TV
Outtake TV
Outtake TV is a blooper show originally hosted by Paul O'Grady from 2002 to 2003, then, by Anne Robinson from 2004 to 2009 and as of 2010, Rufus Hound. Robinson had been presenting the show 2004 to 2009 and airing on BBC One. It replaced the channel's original blooper show Auntie's Bloomers...
until 2009. She currently hosts a satirical news-based chat show on BBC One called What's the Problem? With Anne Robinson, and the BBC's interactive quiz, Test the Nation
Test the Nation
Test the Nation is a television programme, first broadcast in 2001 by BNN in the Netherlands where the concept is owned by Eyeworks Holding who license it to TV production companies around the world.-Show format:...
. In 2006, Robinson was ranked number 46 in the ITV poll of TV's 50 Greatest Stars
TV's 50 Greatest Stars
TV's 50 Greatest Stars was a British awards show, broadcast as part of ITV's 50th birthday celebrations on 9 September 2006. The two 2 hour show was presented by Bradley Walsh.-Results:As voted for by ITV viewers.1. David Jason2. Morecambe and Wise...
. She was also voted the second most terrifying celebrity on television in a 2006 Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
poll of 3,000 people.
In May 2009, it was announced Robinson would return to present BBC One's long-running consumer show, Watchdog. In April 2011, Robinson confirmed that she will quit presenting Weakest Link in 2012 after spending eleven years as the host of 1,690 shows.
Controversy
Robinson caused a stir when she appeared on the comedy show Room 101Room 101 (TV series)
Room 101 is a BBC comedy television series based on the radio series of the same name, in which celebrities were invited to discuss their pet hates and persuade the host to consign them to a fate worse than death in Room 101, named after the torture room in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which is...
on 5 March 2001. Robinson's comments about Welsh people
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
, such as "What are they for?", "I never did like them", and even suggesting that Prince Philip also disliked them, were perceived as derogatory. This caused an outcry and accusations of racism. After four senior officers from North Wales Police
North Wales Police
North Wales Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing North Wales. The headquarters are in Colwyn Bay, with divisional headquarters in St Asaph, Caernarfon and Wrexham....
spent 96 hours investigating the issue, she apologised for the comments and agreed to do promotional work for the Wales Tourist Board to encourage people to visit the country. In addition to this, BBC2 show Robot Wars
Robot Wars
Robot Wars is a British game show modelled on a US-based competition of the same name. It was broadcast on BBC Two from 1998 until 2003, with its final series broadcast on Five in 2003 and 2004. Additional series were filmed for specific sectors of the global market, including two series of Robot...
also saw a protest against these remarks by Welsh robot Mega Morg, who placed a picture of Robinson on the front of the robot in the hope it would get destroyed.
In the same show, she put comedian Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
into Room 101 in protest at his hosting the Royal Variety Performance. She argued that he should be sent to the room "for being a total and utter hypocrite and going back on everything he stood for in the 80s and 90s". In April 2002, Robinson was then placed into the Room 101 bin by Jessica Stevenson
Jessica Stevenson
Jessica Hynes is an English actress and writer. She was known professionally as Jessica Stevenson until 2007.She is possibly best known as one of the creators, writers and stars of the British sitcom Spaced....
who said she couldn't stand Robinson's bare-faced cheek for insulting people on her show; she then went on to say that Robinson reminded her to a certain "German dictator who also hated his own people", as Liverpool was so close to Wales, the black leather outfit, her short hair, and moustache and then had another swip at Robinson for using Botox; "she's not exactly an oil painting is she"; she looks rather tired.
The BBC received 16 complaints after Robinson asked wine connoisseur Olly Smith
Olly Smith
Olly Smith is a TV presenter, wine expert and newspaper columnist. He is the presenter of The Secret Supper Club for Channel 4, Iron Chef UK for Channel 4 and regularly appears on BBC1's Saturday Kitchen, BBC Breakfast, Great Food Live, Food Uncut "Fern" and Taste, and formerly presented the...
, who was competing on the celebrity version of The Weakest Link, to feel her breasts, after he described her as a "full-bodied, expensive red". The programme was broadcast Saturday 5 April 2008 on BBC One.
Robinson caused controversy on The Weakest Link when she made Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
legend John Noakes
John Noakes
John Noakes is a British television presenter and personality, best known for co-presenting the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter in the 1960s and 1970s. He remains the show's longest-serving presenter, with a stint that lasted 12 years and 6 months...
cry after asking "What happened to Shep? Did he die or just run away?" Shep had been Noakes's pet both on and off Blue Peter.
Robinson is a vocal supporter of foxhunting
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
and, prior to it being banned
Hunting Act 2004
The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The effect of the Act is to outlaw hunting with dogs in England and Wales from 18 February 2005...
in 2004, was a key supporter of the pro hunt cause. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
claims she has also ridden with the White Horse Foxhunt. In an interview with Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
in September 2000, Robinson was asked what her first act as world leader would be, replying "I'd lock up all the hunt saboteurs because they are destructive. They are campaigning about something of which they know nothing."
In February 2002, she hosted a spin-off version of The Weakest Link in Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
to raise funds for the local White Horse Hunt. The event was picketed by around 100 protesters from The League Against Cruel Sports
League Against Cruel Sports
The League Against Cruel Sports are an animal welfare organisation that campaigns against all blood sports including bull fighting, fox hunting and hare coursing. It also campaigns to ban the manufacture, sale and use of snares, for the regulation of greyhound racing and for an end to commercial...
, however around 70 animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activists returning from another demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
joined the picket, culminating in a near riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
. The event eventually went ahead after Anne Robinson was escorted into the venue by local police.
Personal life
In 1973, Robinson lost a custody battle for her only child, Emma, then aged two. Charles Wilson was granted sole custody, care and control of Emma, who subsequently lived with her father until she left home at 16 for boarding school.An admitted alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, she stopped drinking on 12 December 1978 after picking her daughter up from school and driving to a petrol station to buy a bottle of vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
.
Robinson married journalist John Penrose in 1980. On 30 September 2007, the couple announced that they were planning to divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences".
In 2001, she published her autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Memoirs of an Unfit Mother, in which she describes her former drinking problem.
Robinson has two grandchildren.
External links
- Bio on PFD website. (Wayback Machine copy)