Anne Robinson has claimed that she receives a £100 bonus payment every time she winks on Countdown.
The former ECHO journalist said that the wink became her ‘signature move’ when she used to host hit gameshow The Weakest Link. The 77-year-old traditionally ended each episode of the BBC quiz show with a knowing smile and a cheeky wink while wishing viewers ‘Goodbye’.
She has gone on to present the Channel 4 game show Countdown since June 28 2021, taking over from Nick Hewer. The presenter said she has now managed to convince the bosses of Countdown to agree to pay her £100 a pop each time she does the wink.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Anne claimed she had the agreement written into her contract. She said: “I told them I get paid £100 per wink. I said, ‘It's going to cost you £100 a show’. 'We film five shows a day, so that's 15 shows a week, and an extra £1,500.”
The TV legend made her debut as the new host of Countdown in June last year as the first female presenter. She took over from famous face Nick Hewer, and is now the sixth host of the iconic series that first aired 20 years ago in 1982.
Last year, it was reported that Anne and co-star Rachel Riley had a failing out behind-the-scenes, although, Rachel broke silence on the rumours late last year whilst on the show Lorraine.
She said: "I mean, no, she's not the cuddliest person in the world but it's just a different flavour on the show now. She's making it her own and she's getting some stuff out of the contestants and sometimes it's barbed, sometimes it's funny, it's got a different flavour.”
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