The Chase star Jenny Ryan has provided a health update after being left with a throat scar following recent surgery to remove her thyroid gland. The 44-year-old, known as The Vixen on the ITV game show, shared a selfie from her hospital bed on Instagram on Thursday, July 2.
Jenny Ryan's Thyroid Surgery and Recovery
In her Instagram post, Ryan wrote: “Hello my lovelies. You might notice my new scar. You'd be hard pushed to not spot it, given it's right on the front of my neck. As much as I'd like to have an exciting and glamorous reason (old timey duel, Olympic fencing practice, near miss with guillotine) the reality is not so sexy. My thyroid gland made a bid for fame and got so big it started causing some problems so we* chopped it out.”
She assured fans that the surgery went well: “I'm fine. Surgery was all good and the consultant is very happy. My voice still works and it's healing nicely. I had to stay quite still for a couple of weeks in case my head fell off** but we are grand now.” Ryan also expressed gratitude to the NHS, saying: “Thanks to the head and neck gang and all the terrific people who looked after me at UCH. The NHS is beyond wonderful.”
Fan and Celebrity Support
Fans and followers flooded the comments with well-wishes. ITV commented: “Nothing wrong with being dramatic Jenny! Hope you feel better soon.” @carlycheers22 added: “So glad you’re doing okay and I wish you a speedy recovery.” @houseofjohnson wrote: “Hope you’re feeling better soon, darling.” @jasonkingsaints posted: “Get well soon @jenny_from_the_quiz looking forward to seeing you back on our screens in your own time, rest up and take care.” @katiegale commented: “I'm glad to hear you're recovering well!! The NHS is such a treasure.” @bookwormrach90 stated: “I'm glad the surgery went well! I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly.”
Jenny Ryan's Career and Upcoming Show
Bolton native Jenny Ryan made her debut on The Chase in 2015 and quickly became a fan favourite. Before joining the show, she appeared on University Challenge for the University of Leeds, reaching the semi-finals in 2003. She has also featured on Mastermind, Are You an Egghead, and Only Connect.
Ryan's health update comes just days after she appeared in a trailer for the new spin-off, The Chase Across The World. The series will see six teams of two locate all six Chasers hiding across the globe. The trailer was captioned: “BOOKING CONFIRMED. Trip: Some seriously epic locations. Travellers: Six Chasers & six pairs of contestants. Mission: Stay one step ahead.”
