With her acid tongue and withering glare, she is the undisputed Queen of Mean.

But television’s most terrifying presenter has been left a quivering wreck thanks to the most unlikely of enemies - a scuttling mouse.

So terrified of the odd stray rodent is she, that Anne Robinson has employed a permanent pest control unit.

The former Weakest Link host now receives monthly visits from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s rodent team, who check her house from top to bottom, and make the necessary reinforcement should a mouse dropping be found.

A source said: ‘Anne is absolutely petrified of mice and rats; it’s almost a phobia.

‘Her next door neighbour’s building works caused a small influx of rats.

‘Understandably, she was fairly livid especially when she stumbled upon a rat casually sunning itself on her back patio.

‘Pest control were immediately called out, and poison was put down to get rid of the problem.

‘She was also advised to block-up any cupboard gaps or holes in the wall with iron wool to stop them from being able to get in.

‘Clearly Anne never wishes to come nose to nose with a rodent again, or hear the pitter patter of tiny paws, so she has the council on a retainer - meaning they come out once a month merely as a preventative measure.

‘For peace of mind alone, it is worth every penny.’

Whilst a one-off visit - and two follow-up visits - costs £120, the council offers special rates for those on a retainer.

According to its official website, a small house or flat with a mouse problem will be charged a minimum of £500 a year for an annual retainer.

However, given that the 72-year-old star lives in a £6 million detached house on one of London’s finest streets, she is likely to be paying considerably more than this.

Of course, such a rodent repulsion is likely to come as something of a shock to her legion of TV fans.

For 12 years she left contestants shaking in their boots thanks to her scathing put-downs and a dismissive raise of the eyebrow as she unceremoniously told them, ‘You are the weakest link; goodbye!’

Indeed, so scary was her on-screen demeanour, one commentator likened her to an ‘emotional dominatrix’.

The popular presenter, a former journalist said to be worth around £50 million, is notoriously straight-talking.

She has previously admitted to having had a facelift, and has spoken about her erstwhile battle with alcoholism which she overcame.

Speaking about her television persona, she previously said: ‘As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing my bit for the sisterhood just by being here.

‘If you look at Mrs Thatcher, female solidarity wasn’t even on the ninth page of her mission statement, but by becoming prime minister, she did more for women than any feminist you could mention.’