Chaser Anne Hegerty has opened up about her dream quiz opponent and provided exclusive insights into the future of the hit ITV show, The Chase. Speaking exclusively at the TV Choice Awards, the quizmaster revealed she would relish the opportunity to face off against broadcasting legend Stephen Fry in a battle of wits.
Quiz Royalty Showdown: Hegerty vs. Fry
When asked which celebrity she would most like to challenge, Hegerty did not hesitate. "I’d love to take on Stephen Fry. He’s so smart, but I bet there’s stuff he doesn’t know," she confessed. "He’s probably smarter than me overall, but I might outsmart him on certain things."
Hegerty praised Fry's formidable intellect, noting his background as a former host of QI and his early television appearance as a contestant on University Challenge. The prospect of such a high-stakes intellectual duel has undoubtedly captured the imagination of quiz show enthusiasts across the nation.
Awards Night and Industry Recognition
The conversation took place at the TV Choice Awards, where The Chase was nominated for Best Game Show. Ultimately, the award was claimed by Lee Mack's The 1% Club. Hegerty graciously acknowledged the competition, stating, "It would be great to win it. The 1% Club seems to win everything at the moment. But we’d love to come away with this one."
She expressed admiration for Mack, calling him "brilliant" and "so funny," and even revealed a personal ambition to secure a cameo role on his sitcom, Not Going Out. However, her packed schedule has thus far prevented such an appearance.
Busy Schedule and Panto Commitments
Hegerty's calendar remains intensely busy, particularly following her annual pantomime engagement over the Christmas period. "I haven’t really had time off, I’ve done panto," she explained. "I’m just getting over what I was calling the 'panto cold'. You know, you do panto and at some point during the run, you will get a cold. So I’m still getting over that."
Exciting Updates on The Chase Universe
Looking ahead, Hegerty provided significant updates on the expansion of The Chase franchise. A new spin-off, The Chase Around The World, is scheduled to begin filming in May. "I can’t say too much, but it involves the Chasers travelling around and people having to try and work out where we are and who we are," she teased.
International ventures are also progressing well. "Last year I made two trips to Australia to do The Chase Australia. We’ve filmed four pilot episodes of a possible Chase New Zealand, and I’m hearing they’d probably like to take that to series. It’s just a question of when everyone can get together," Hegerty disclosed.
Regarding the logistics of a potential New Zealand series, she added, "Well, for the pilot we filmed on the Australian set. I don’t know if they’ll want to build a whole set in New Zealand, it’s expensive, so we’ll have to wait and see."
Filming for the Main Series and Unseen Content
Despite these global expansions, production for the original UK series of The Chase is set to resume imminently. When questioned about filming schedules, Hegerty confirmed, "Not for another, let me think, about three weeks. In another three weeks we’ll be back."
Fans need not worry about a content drought, however. "But we’ve got loads in the can, and we’ve got an entire series of Beat the Chasers that hasn’t been seen yet, so there’s plenty," she assured.
Enduring Popularity and Ratings Success
The Chase continues to be a ratings powerhouse for ITV. Hegerty reflected on the show's sustained success, noting, "It really does. There have been times when it’s been out-rating everything except the news. It’s beaten the soaps. It’s doing absolutely fine."
This consistent performance underscores the programme's enduring appeal and suggests a bright future remains firmly on the cards for Hegerty and her fellow Chasers.
