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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Anne Robinson gives her opinion on trans rights issues and women's safety concerns

Anne Robinson has made a series of comments about trans people and what she perceives to be issues regarding women's safety.

The departing Countdown presenter - who is cisgender - has become the latest public figure to share their opinions about the trans community and reveal how they personally define women.

Speaking with The Telegraph, Anne, 77, has explained how she believes "a woman is someone with a vagina" and discussed the surgeries some trans people opt for or against during their transition journey.

According to Stonewall, only an estimated 1% of British people identify as trans or non-binary - around 600,000 out of a population of over 60 million - but despite making up such a small part of the country, the rights of the trans community have been constantly debated and discussed over recent years.

Anne Robinson has become the latest celebrity to discuss the rights of the trans community (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The former Weakest Link presenter is 'horrified' by what she claims is a lack of safety in women's spaces (BBC)

In her latest interview, alongside explaining why she is leaving Countdown after just one year on the Channel 4 show, Anne also discussed her concerns about transwomen who have not undergone certain sex reassignment surgeries using female-only spaces.

"I'm horrified by the lack of safety in women's changing rooms, at swimming pools and that sort of thing," she told the publication.

"The most interesting statistic is that the amount of trans [people] who actually surgically get altered is miniscule. So you are talking about men in women's changing rooms."

One study in 2018 claimed that there is no evidence to suggest that allowing transgender people to use public facilities - such as swimming pool changing rooms - that align with their gender identity increases safety risks.

"Opponents of public accommodations laws that include gender identity protections often claim that the laws leave women and children vulnerable to attack in public restrooms," Amira Hasenbush wrote in the study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

"But this study provides evidence that these incidents are rare and unrelated to the laws."

Anne announced her Countdown exit last week (Channel 4)

Anne also claimed to The Telegraph she had never met anyone "who hates the idea that we can define a woman with common sense."

"I've never met this person that's so angry," she added.

"I suspect they're angry [anyway] and this has been quite good to latch on to."

Anne's interview comes after she announced last week she would be leaving the Countdown team, after becoming its sixth presenter and the first female to take the role last year.

The departing presenter denied a rift with her Countdown co-stars (Channel 4)

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour, Anne addressed the rumour she clashed with co-stars Rachel Riley and Susie Dent and admitted some issues had to be "ironed out" between the trio when working together, including her liking "quiet" on set.

The former Weakest Link host said of Rachel and Susie: "They're both brilliant at what they do. I mean they really, really are. Channel 4 are incredibly lucky to have them. And there isn't a rift.

"It was me wanting everyone to be quiet in the studio. I like everyone turning up on time and quiet, quiet, quiet. So we did have to iron that out. But that's it.

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