Anne Hegerty, known as The Governess on ITV's The Chase, has addressed a common misconception about her iconic outfit on the show. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror ahead of the new spin-off series The Chase Around The World, Hegerty clarified that she does not actually own the suit she wears on the program.
"Sometimes when we're in costume, people don't realise we're working because people think I own that suit. I mean, trust me, if I owned that suit it would have a terrible accident," Hegerty said.
New Spin-Off Series: The Chase Around The World
The six-part special will see six teams of two competing to win £100,000 as they take the beloved quiz show around Europe. Starting in Rome, players must solve quiz questions, puzzles, and cryptic clues to navigate across the city and find host Bradley Walsh at the finish line. Their route includes iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. The team that finishes last in each city faces a head-to-head with two Chasers and must beat them to stay in the competition.
Chasers Share Filming Experiences
Hegerty and fellow Chaser Shaun Wallace, known as The Dark Destroyer, discussed being recognised by fans while filming abroad. Wallace recalled an encounter in Lisbon: "When Paul and I did it, there was a stag party there in Lisbon, when they recognised us, they went nuts. I will always stop and take photographs with people who recognise us because it's my way of saying thank you to the public, and they love the show and it's our way of giving back. As long as they're not rude or intrusive, we'll stop."
He added that they asked fans not to post photos until July to avoid revealing their filming locations. Hegerty shared a similar incident in Rome, where she and Mark were spotted by fans, joking they were left "hiding behind newspapers." She also recalled an encounter in the Alps, saying, "It happened in the Alps too, where everyone's like 'Woah, it's The Chasers,' and I'm like, 'The fact that we're in costume indicates that we're actually filming so go away.'"
Bradley Walsh Teases New Format
Host Bradley Walsh described the new series as "The Chase... but around the world!" He noted the difference of filming on location instead of in a studio: "I've been locked in Elstree Studios for 17 years! The locations were unbelievable. I loved it, I really did, but then again, I wasn't chasing around, literally chasing around, the cities we were in."
Walsh recalled an emotional moment when a couple who came in last were devastated, but then beat the Chasers to stay in the competition. "All of a sudden you're saying, 'All right, well forget that now. You're now moving onto the next city. You're still in the race.' It was great to watch because their despair turned into such joy. It's a great dynamic, and it's a very simple but effective end to this type of show," he said.
The Chase Around The World starts Thursday, July 16, at 9pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player, and continues weekly on ITV1 and ITVX.
