Council leader demands Anne Robinson apology

The leader of Liverpool City Council wrote to television presenter Anne Robinson today to demand an apology after she insulted her home city on air.

The move came after Ms Robinson suggested Liverpool schoolchildren were expert shoplifters on her BBC2 quiz show The Weakest Link.

She asked maths teacher Lisa Foster, who teaches at St Benedict’s Catholic College in Garston, if she taught her pupils to steal.

When the teacher replied: “No”, the TV presenter asked: “Well then, why are they so good at it?”.

Council leader Mike Storey said he had written to Ms Robinson asking for an apology.

He said: “It is so disappointing to hear this from Anne Robinson, particularly as she is from here originally.

“She would no doubt say it was just a bit of fun, but these slurs on the city have a drip, drip, drip effect.

“They do an awful lot of damage. As a Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University, you would think she would know better.”

Phil Fitzpatrick, headteacher at St Benedict’s, said no one at the school had taken any offence at the comments.

He said: “Anne’s comments were an attempt to be humorous and we certainly don’t take them seriously.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Anne’s sharp tongue and tough presenting style are hallmarks of the show and no contestant is safe from the banter, including someone from her own town.”