Anne Robinson announced as new 'Countdown' host

Anne Robinson has promised to tone down her trademark nastiness when she takes over as the new host of Countdown.

The Weakest Link presenter was announced as Nick Hewer's replacement during Steph's Packed Lunch today, following heavy hints that she was in line for the job during the morning.

Channel 4's daytime show trailed the big reveal with a Countdown conundrum that spelled out Robinson's name, and she then joined for a video interview about her new role.

Robinson is the first female presenter of the show, following Colin Murray, Nick Hewer, Jeff Stelling, Des O'Connor, Des Lynam, and Richard Whiteley.

Talking about joining Rachel Riley and Susie Dent on the team, she said: "I'm going to rename it Three Clever Girls Do Countdown."

Riley is in charge of the maths questions on the quiz show, while Dent runs dictionary corner for the words round.

Known for her sharp tongue on The Weakest Link, Robinson might surprise some as a casting for the gentle quiz - but she promised to keep her harsher comments to herself.

She said: "I've had my family here it seems like a year doing homeschooling, but I've been practising to be nice, not always successfully, but I am going to tone down my nastiness."

Robinson, who also presented Watchdog and Points of View, explained how her Weakest Link catchphrase "You are the Weakest Link - goodbye" had come about.

She said: "I suddenly got really cheesed off with a contestant and added goodbye."

However, despite being known for her put-downs to people taking part in her previous quiz show, she was much more encouraging of any would-be contestants for Countdown.

She said: "Please can we have some female contestants?"

Colin Murray had been filling in for Hewer but has not been cast as the permanent replacement.

Watch: Colin Murray debuts as sixth Countdown host