Rachel Riley reacts to Susie Dent's big announcement away from Countdown after 'show rift'

Rachel Riley has congratulated her Countdown co-star Susie Dent on receiving an MBE for her services to literature and to language, as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list. The 59-year-old has been a resident expert in the Dictionary Corner on the afternoon Channel 4 show for more than 30 years, where she regularly checks and explains unusual words and informs contestants which answers would have improved their score.

Taking to her X page on Saturday morning, Rachel, 38, who has worked alongside Susie on the show since 2009, said the honour was "well deserved". Alongside a throwback of the lexicographer from her earlier days on the show and a more recent picture of her co-star, she wrote: "Sharing her love of words with the nation since 1992, congratulations on your deserved honour @susie_dent MBE!"

Susie has also said she is "thrilled" by the "unexpected recognition" and "will celebrate it on behalf of word lovers everywhere". She added: “Throughout my career I’ve tried to share the joy of language and of books (above all, the dictionary!) and so I’m especially delighted to be honoured for my contribution to language and literature.

“They are the mainstays of my life, and I’ll do my very best to continue spreading the word, quite literally.” Susie joined Countdown back in 1992 when Richard Whiteley was on hosting duties up until his death in 2005.

The long-serving host was later replaced by Des Lynam for a short period, followed by Jeff Stelling and Nick Hewer. After the latter announced he was stepping down in 2021, Anne Robinson joined the show as its first ever female presenter.

Following just one year as the presenter however, she decided to leave.

In a statement at the time, she shared: “I’ve had a blast hosting this wonderful show and I stayed longer than I signed up for. Now it is time for an older woman to take the reins.”

The Weakest Link star later said she decided to leave due to the show taking up more of her time than she thought.

She explained: "It is great fun but it is intense. I go up [to Media City in Salford] and we do 15 shows in three 11-hour days. I’m built to last so I don’t really mind, but it does take up quite a chunk of my time."

In the same interview with the Mail Online, Anne also set the record straight about an apparent rift between her and Rachel, ollowing reports she found the latter too loud.

While speaking on Lorraine, maths whizz Rachel also said the host wasn't "the cuddliest person in the world, but it’s just a different show now, she’s making it her own".

Addressing the feud rumours, Anne shared: "I’m not saying I would go on holiday with Rachel Riley, but she is brilliant. Absolutely honestly, I do admire her – she is really, really good at what she does, as is Susie Dent.

"Look, Rachel has just come back from having a baby and she is standing throughout and faultless, whereas I get to sit down.

"She is noisy, yes she and Susie both are – they are a formidable pair those two. But there isn’t a question of my going because of a rift, that’s nonsense."

Anne went on to say that the way the show is filmed also prevented them from forming a bond as they didn't have time to speak to each other.

The presenter has since been replaced by Colin Murray who said the "atmosphere has changed and that's huge" following Anne's departure, in an interview with The Mirror.

Meanwhile, as well as Susie, Strictly Come Dancing's Amy Dowden has also been recognised in the The King's Birthday Honours List 2024 for her services to fundraising and raising awareness of Crohn's disease.

Additionally, singers Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon, Heather Small and Rebecca Ferguson are on the list, as well as Post Office victims campaigner Alan Bates, who receives a knighthood for his services to justice.