The Chase star Jenny Ryan is one of the six infamous Chasers on the hugely popular ITV quiz show.
She is known for her incredible general knowledge skills and regularly wipes the floor with contestants hoping to best her in order to take home the eye-watering cash prize. But before the 42-year-old became known as The Vixen on the teatime programme, she had a long history of being a contestant on many of the country’s biggest game shows.
More recently, the auburn beauty took home a gong for Best Game Show at the TV Choice Awards last week. She looked nothing short of sensational as she showcased her toned physique in a stunning black velvet jumpsuit as she strutted her stuff along the red carpet.
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While she continues to dominate the game show industry, Daily Star has taken a deep dive inside her epic quiz show history on rival shows.
(Image: Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/Getty I)
The fiery redhead from Bolton made her debut TV appearance on University Challenge back in 2003 in a bid to help the University of Leeds make it to the semi-finals. Her time on quiz shows didn’t end there when the brainiac went on to write questions for The Weakest Link and Fifteen to One during her education.
It wasn’t until 2006 when she returned to the silver screen, this time as a contestant on Mastermind with her chosen subject, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s fair to say the TV personality looks worlds away from her now famous TV persona.
On the BBC quiz show, she sported chocolate locks which she parted in the middle that perfectly framed her face. At that time, Jenny embraced her natural beauty with only a lick of mascara on her fluttery lashes.
(Image: BBC)
But it didn’t take long before ITV bosses snapped her up. In 2009, she was approached by TV execs to write questions for the pilot episode of The Chase.
While working as a quizmaster, the TV favourite went on to appear on Only Connect in 2011 where her team fought to be crowned the champion of champions on the BBC Four show. It wasn’t until 2015 when Jenny made her ITV debut on September 2 – and it was all thanks to her fellow chaser Anne Hegerty.
At the time, The Governess recommended producer hire her to be a chaser on the show after proving her worth behind the scenes each week. It was TV host Bradley Walsh who gave Jenny her infamous nickname in the build up to her first episode.
(Image: ITV)
The clever clogs is better known as The Vixen on the show, which is in reference to her red hair and previously favoured hairstyle she sported at the time. It is understood TV execs fell in love with the name because “vixens are notoriously clever and cunning.”
Speaking to Lorraine about how she landed a spot on the show back in 2022, she explained: “I had my hair in a big ponytail and the producers were trying to work out what my nickname should be. They wanted something animal-related because I like animal print.”
Others have also referred to her as The Bolton Brainiac after she quickly proved to naïve contestants that she’s certainly not easy to beat. Since she made a name for herself as an impressive academic, the star went on to showcase some of her other impressive talents on various other reality shows.
(Image: BBC)
Loyal fans of the TV star will remember that she blew the judges away with her impressive vocal ability when she made it all the way to the live finals in 2019. Unfortunately, the northern lass was beaten to the post by Ex on the Beach star Meghan McKenna.
But that didn’t stop her from going on to appear in other shows, with the star later appearing on the 14th series of Celebrity MasterChef. After showcasing her impressive culinary skills, the redhead went on to appear on Celebrity Antiques Roadshow where she competed against pal Lucy Porter.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
