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Countdown presenter Rachel Riley has defended her decision to wear a t-shirt featuring a doctored photo of Jeremy Corbyn, saying she has “no qualms” about “highlighting” the Labour leader’s “racism”.

The Channel Four star has faced calls to resign over the t-shirt, which depicts Mr Corbyn carrying a poster which has been photoshopped to read: “Jeremy Corbyn is a racist endeavour.”

The original photo, taken in 1984, captures the moment the Labour leader was arrested while protesting the South African apartheid.

However, the real message on Mr Corbyn’s placard – which read: “Defend the right to protest against apartheid. Join this picket” – has been replaced on Ms Riley’s top.

Ms Riley, 33, was photographed wearing the highly controversial t-shirt after leaving the ITV studios in Salford following Tuesday’s televised leaders’ debate.

Sharing a photo of herself, she wrote on Twitter: “I didn’t feel comfortable knowing my workplace was to be full of racists tonight. I don’t endorse Boris, but I do endorse #NeverCorbyn. Please see my pinned thread if you still don’t understand why. #LeadersDebate #LabourAntisemitism.”

The Labour Party has declined the Standard's request to comment on Ms Riley's behaviour.

Rachel Riley - In pictures 26 show all Rachel Riley - In pictures 1/26 Rachel Riley brings baby Maven Aria and husband Pasha Kovalev to Countdown studios as she returns to work three months after giving birth @rachelrileyrr 2/26 Strictly Come Dancing 2013 BBC 3/26 The Countdown star posted an image of herself sporting the controversial t-shirt @rachelrileyrr 4/26 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 5/26 Rachel Riyley welcomes her newborn baby Miss Maven Aria Riley Kovaleva @rachelrileyrr 6/26 Rachel Riley marries Strictly lover Pasha Kovalev @rachelrileyrr 7/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4 8/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4 9/26 Countdown star Rachel Riley has said the stress she felt receiving hate from online trolls led her unborn baby to stop kicking for two days @rachelrileyrr 10/26 Rachel Riley at the World Wide Web's 30th birthday in 2019 Dave Benett 11/26 Countdown presenter Rachel Riley delivers a petition of 35,000 signatures calling for more government funding into dementia in 2019 PA 12/26 Rachel Riley attends the Cirque du Soleil Premiere Of "TOTEM" at Royal Albert Hall in 2019 Dave Benett 13/26 Rachel Riley takes a selfie with fans prior to The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley in 2018 Getty Images 14/26 Rachel Riley at the British Takeaway Awards 2018 Dave Benett 15/26 Rachel Riley attends the Manchester United and Unicef 2017 Gala at Old Trafford in Manchester PA 16/26 Rachel Riley attending the 2017 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards PA 17/26 Rachel Riley and David Beckham attend the World Aids Day Charity Gala in 2017 Dave Benett 18/26 GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 Getty Images 19/26 Rachel Riley at the 'Tomorrowland' film premiere in 2015 James Shaw/Rex 20/26 Rachel Riley at the 'Self Esteem' book launch party in 2015 Rex 21/26 Kimberley Walsh, Tess Daly and Rachel Riley attend the Special K Bring Colour Back launch in 2015 Dave Benett 22/26 Rachel Riley attends the 2015 ITV Gala Dave Benett 23/26 Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev for Strictly Come Dancing 2013 BBC 24/26 GQ Men of the Year Award 2016 Rex Features 25/26 Strictly Come Dancing 2013 26/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4 1/26 Rachel Riley brings baby Maven Aria and husband Pasha Kovalev to Countdown studios as she returns to work three months after giving birth @rachelrileyrr 2/26 Strictly Come Dancing 2013 BBC 3/26 The Countdown star posted an image of herself sporting the controversial t-shirt @rachelrileyrr 4/26 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 5/26 Rachel Riyley welcomes her newborn baby Miss Maven Aria Riley Kovaleva @rachelrileyrr 6/26 Rachel Riley marries Strictly lover Pasha Kovalev @rachelrileyrr 7/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4 8/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4 9/26 Countdown star Rachel Riley has said the stress she felt receiving hate from online trolls led her unborn baby to stop kicking for two days @rachelrileyrr 10/26 Rachel Riley at the World Wide Web's 30th birthday in 2019 Dave Benett 11/26 Countdown presenter Rachel Riley delivers a petition of 35,000 signatures calling for more government funding into dementia in 2019 PA 12/26 Rachel Riley attends the Cirque du Soleil Premiere Of "TOTEM" at Royal Albert Hall in 2019 Dave Benett 13/26 Rachel Riley takes a selfie with fans prior to The Emirates FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley in 2018 Getty Images 14/26 Rachel Riley at the British Takeaway Awards 2018 Dave Benett 15/26 Rachel Riley attends the Manchester United and Unicef 2017 Gala at Old Trafford in Manchester PA 16/26 Rachel Riley attending the 2017 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards PA 17/26 Rachel Riley and David Beckham attend the World Aids Day Charity Gala in 2017 Dave Benett 18/26 GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2016 Getty Images 19/26 Rachel Riley at the 'Tomorrowland' film premiere in 2015 James Shaw/Rex 20/26 Rachel Riley at the 'Self Esteem' book launch party in 2015 Rex 21/26 Kimberley Walsh, Tess Daly and Rachel Riley attend the Special K Bring Colour Back launch in 2015 Dave Benett 22/26 Rachel Riley attends the 2015 ITV Gala Dave Benett 23/26 Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev for Strictly Come Dancing 2013 BBC 24/26 GQ Men of the Year Award 2016 Rex Features 25/26 Strictly Come Dancing 2013 26/26 Rachel Riley on Countdown Channel 4

The Countdown presenter, who is expecting her first baby with husband Pasha Kovalev, has been a highly vocal critic of the Labour leader for some time, amid claims of antisemitism within the party.

Defending her choice to don the photoshopped message, she tweeted on Thursday morning: “Without feeding individual ignorant trolls, this is why I have no qualms using this photo to highlight Corbyn’s racism.”

She then shared a stream of articles accusing the Labour Party, and its leader, of “institutional racism”.

However, fellow social media users have condemned the t-shirt stunt, calling it a “total disgrace”.

One Twitter user wrote: “Dear @Channel4, Rachel Riley is a total disgrace. I demand that Riley be sacked with immediate effect.”

Another commented: “So Rachel Riley has taken an image of Jeremy Corbyn protesting against South African apartheid and photoshopped it onto a t-shirt, amended to accuse him of being a racist.

“Amazing she doesn't see how erasing the apartheid struggle from that image is so grossly offensive.”

Others have posted the iconic Countdown timer, with one user writing: “Quick estimate of how long is left of Rachel Riley's career.”

But Ms Riley has spoken out against the critics, writing: "‘People can shout all they like. Most are ignorant of the facts. Which they still won’t read when they’re laid out in black and white.’

Channel Four has not yet commented on whether it will heed calls for her dismissal over the incident.

The Standard has contacted the broadcaster for comment.