Rachel Riley leaves Anne Robinson blushing as she claims Nick Hewer stole UNDERWEAR from Countdown studio

RACHEL Riley has left Anne Robinson blushing after revealing Nick Hewer stole a number of items from the Countdown studio.

The pregnant host joked Nick, 77, had even taken UNDERWEAR as a keepsake from the iconic set after he left the show last week.

Rachel, 35, who took over from Carol Vorderman in 2009, recently waved goodbye to fellow host Nick, who left his role after almost a decade.

Weakest Link star Anne Robinson, 76, has already taken over from The Apprentice panellist - commemorating her first episode airing on Monday.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, Rachel and Anne jibed back and forth about the intricacies of the new role, including what chair the new host would sit on.

It was then the pair got into a discussion of what previous presenter Nick had taken, as Rachel revealed he'd "taken his chair with him".

"I'm new, but that does mean now three girls do Countdown," Anne introduced the snippet. "Show's the same, but let me tell you, the tea areas here are much tidier."

Asking Rachel if there was "anything they should change", Rachel shook her head and instead completed Anne's "new chair".

"Isn't this Nick's old chair?" Anne replied, to which Rachel explained: "Oh, no. I think he took that with him. He nicked loads of stuff."

"Everything has gone," she added, before joking about the underwear: "All your tights had be new because he took the tights as well."

While it's not been confirmed exactly what he did take from the studio, Nick waved goodbye in a final Countdown episode on Friday 25 June, 2021.

Lorraine, 61, went on to ask Anne about the new episodes, with the new host admitting she was "nervous" taking over the role at first.

"It's just like doing The Weakest Link," she added, having got used to the job - which she said took her 30 minutes to accept after being offered it.

Anne is the first female host of the Channel 4 game show, joining Rachel and word expert Susie Dent to make an all-female cast.

Rachel said of the new line-up in a statement: "It’s been really fun watching Anne very quickly find her feet in the Countdown studio and seeing the contestants in the new groove with her.

"She’s not shy of asking them funny questions and the responses have ranged from going into their own comedy routines to not looking directly at her and hoping she doesn’t see them."

She concluded of Anne's first day that it had been "very lively" as she cracked jokes and got to grips with the role.

Meanwhile, Nick signed off in his final episode: "It’s been a pleasure working with you guys, Susie and Rachel, it’s been a real pleasure. Thank you so much.

"So, that’s it! Back on Monday, and there’ll be somebody else in my chair, and I hope that she’ll have as much fun as I’ve had and I hope that you’ll be as generous to her as you’ve been to me."

Countdown airs weekdays at 2:15pm on Channel 4.