Jenny Ryan, the formidable quizmaster known as The Vixen on ITV's hit show The Chase, has candidly disclosed the arduous journey she endured to secure her position on the programme. With over a decade of experience on the show, the 43-year-old detailed a rigorous six-month audition process that she humorously likened to the notoriously secretive entry procedures of MI6, Britain's intelligence agency.
The Gruelling Path to Becoming a Chaser
Ryan's quest to join The Chase began after her appearance on The Weakest Link, where she participated as a civilian contestant. Reflecting on that experience, she admitted to harbouring "a lot of bitterness" from being voted off second to last, despite consistently performing as the strongest link in each round. "It really was a competitive vote from the other contestants," she recalled. "I was furious—they knew I was better. I gave a really good exit interview, I was really mean about it," she added with a laugh.
A Six-Month Odyssey of Auditions
Having been active in the competitive quiz circuit for many years, Ryan soon found herself auditioning for The Chase. Over a half-year period, she underwent multiple auditions before finally facing a screen test with the show's host, Bradley Walsh. Speaking on The Final FronTia with Tia Kofi podcast, she explained, "It wasn't an easy process. I had been on the quiz circuit for quite a long time and had known The Beast, Mark Labbett, for years before he got the job. I had seen everyone else come through the ranks and wondered when my audition would come. It was a really tough process—six months of auditions before they decided I got the job."
Comparing the Challenge to MI6
In a striking comparison, Ryan claimed that landing The Chase role felt even more difficult than gaining entry into MI6. "It's harder than getting into MI6," she asserted. When questioned about how she could make such a claim, she joked, "I couldn't tell you if I had applied," before clarifying that she could "absolutely not" handle such a clandestine job. She elaborated that her insight came from a friend who had progressed quite far through the MI6 application process, giving her a basis for the daunting comparison.
Life as a Chaser and Welcoming New Talent
Jenny Ryan officially joined The Chase as a chaser in 2015 and has remained a key member of the panel ever since. She held the title of the newest chaser until former contestant Darragh Ennis joined the team in 2021. Addressing this change, she told Radio Times Magazine, "It's great that the show is feeling refreshed by having a new face in there. Somebody who's up for the challenge, somebody who can join our ranks and step with us right away. Darragh's been practicing his whole life for this in the same way that the rest of us have—it's our dream job—so I'm absolutely delighted that he's with us and that he's the new boy."
Together with her fellow chasers—Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Shaun Wallace, and Paul Sinha—Ryan also challenges contestants in the spin-off series Beat The Chasers. The Chase continues to air weekdays from 5pm on ITV and ITVX, captivating audiences with its blend of trivia and tension.
