Jenny Ryan says securing her role as one of The Chase’s elite quizmasters was a far tougher challenge than viewers might expect.
The 43 year old, known to audiences as The Vixen, has spoken about the demanding six month audition process she went through before joining the long running ITV quiz show in 2015.
Ryan’s path to The Chase began after she appeared as a civilian contestant on The Weakest Link — an experience she admits still stings.
“I was voted out second to last. I just missed the final and I had been the strongest link in every round," she said on The Final FronTia with Tia Kofi podcast.
Asked whether the vote from her fellow contestants was strategic, Ryan said it was — and that she was furious at the time.
"They knew I was better," she said, adding she delivered a pointed exit interview that reflected her frustration.
Despite the disappointment, Ryan's long involvement in the competitive quiz circuit soon led her to audition for The Chase. Over the next six months, she faced multiple auditions and selection rounds, culminating in a screen test with host Bradley Walsh.
"It wasn't an easy process," she said. "It was six months' worth of auditions before they decided I got the job."
Ryan had been part of the quiz world for years and had known fellow Chaser Mark Labbett — known as The Beast — before he joined the programme, watching others progress through the ranks.
"I'd seen everyone else come through and wondered when my audition was," she said.
Reflecting on the experience, Ryan joked that the process rivalled some of the world's most selective recruitment programmes.
"It's harder than getting into MI6," she said, citing a friend who had been through the intelligence service's application process.
The Chase has been on the air since 2009 and has launched multiple spin-offs, including Beat the Chasers; The Chase: Bloopers; The Chasers’ Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles; and The Family Chase. It's also spawned New Zealand and Australian versions of the show.
Watch The Chase UK daily at 5pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+
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