Morning:
20°c
Johnny Depp has become, in his young middle age, like a star of the movies’ golden period
Secret deal hatched by News of the World to hush up details of phone-tapping was sealed in a tiny room at the Royal Courts of Justice
More...
The sauciest link: Anne Robinson stuns viewers by asking contestant to feel her breasts
Last updated at 14:30pm on 09.04.08Even by BBC queen of mean Anne Robinson's standards whose withering put-downs are her stock in trade, it was an outrageous request.
The Weakest Link stunned viewers by asking a contestant to feel her breasts on a celebrity version of the show.
The upfront invitation from the 63-year-old left contestant and professional wine taster Olly Smith red-faced in front of the cameras.
Scroll down for more...
Hands on: Anne Robinson shocked viewers when she asked one of contestant Olly Smith to feel her breasts, on Saturday's televised edition of quiz show The Weakest Link
But it appears that Anne's brazenness has backfired as today, the BBC are looking into 16 complaints from viewers who felt the normally icy quiz show host had gone too far.
Anne's flirtatious invitation to Olly to take a hands-on approach came at the start of the BBC show on Saturday.
Scroll down for more...
Terrifying: Olly accepted Anne's invitation after telling the 63-year-old she was 'full-bodied'
But Anne, did not take kindly to his comments and responded: "I don't like being called full-bodied.
"I have spent a long time getting this figure. Are you saying I have huge breasts?".
As the conversation continued into embarrassing territory, Olly told her: "You're terrifying, in a sexy way!"
Scroll down for more...
A touch too far: Sixteen viewers have complained about the behaviour on the show, and felt the show's host and Olly had gone too far
It was then that Anne gestured to her cleavage and said: "You need to feel them?"
Olly replied: "I would love to." He hesitated, then said it would be one of his life's "greatest regrets" if he did not touch the former newspaper journalist's breasts.
After placing his hands over them, he proclaimed: "They are absolutely fantastic, honestly! Touch my hands. These are amazing! I have touched Anne's boobs."
Queen of mean: Anne Robinson has a reputation for her cutting comments - but has she gone too far?
The show was a special charity edition of The Weakest Link featuring 10 celebrity contestants from the world of food and drink, including Sophie Grigson and TV chefs The Hairy Bikers.
The Weakest Link is aired at teatime and is popular with schoolchildren – heightening viewers' concerns about standards of decency.
A BBC source tried to play down the incident, stressing it was a "playful and light-hearted" exchange.
Today, the BBC stressed that the 16 complaints were from a viewing figure of 5.5million.
The former Watchdog presenter has reinvented herself since making her television debut with a facelift, and hiring a personal trainer to lose weight.
She is now estimated to earn more than £2million a year, and is thought to be worth around £50million.
Anne is well known for her caustic sense of humour, and earned herself the title of Rudest Woman on Television from TV Times with her catchphrase, 'You are the weakest link, goodbye'.
Related articles
- Loose Women look the worse for wear after running amok at TV awards... maybe they should take a lesson from Holly
- Cranford's Bafta bonanza: Dame Judi receives record 24th Bafta nomination
- £1m-a-year Natasha Kaplinksy pulls in one million viewers for Channel Five news debut
- A star is born: Welsh songbird Duffy tops the charts
- Eurovision dream for reality TV losers
Reader views (4)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I had no idea she was 63 and kudos to her for her bravery in putting herself in the line of fire as it were. Anne you are a fantastic TV person jolly well done in showing you are a game for a laugh human too.
- Bill, Manchester UK
Whats the problem here? If Anne was topless and had asked the contestant to rub her down...then yes, that is unacceptable. But this was just some harmless fun on a show raising money for charity. I would like to point out that I have seen much worse scenes on so-called "Reality TV" shows and if this ridiculous political correctness continues, humour and sarcasm will disappear altogether from British TV screens for fear of complaints.
I think its great that a young lad (or indeed Anyone...) still thinks Anne Robinson is HOT!!
- Stella, London, UK
Storm in a d cup.
- Al Stuart, Ealing
Oh dear shock horror ," man feels woman's breasts "! how terrible, how offensive, the very thought of it!
- Brian, wiltshire
