The Chase star Issa ‘Supernerd’ Schultz reveals who strongest Chaser really is

The Chase star Issa ‘Supernerd’ Schultz has opened up on working with some of the smartest minds in the world on the popular quiz show, revealing who he thinks the strongest Chaser is – and what they’re all really like behind closed doors.

The 35-year-old sat down with hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies on Tuesday’s The Morning Show to discuss an exciting new version of The Chase, which features a line-up of celebrities and personalities including the Sunrise team. As part of the chat, he was asked his thoughts on who the strongest Chaser in the team is.

Without a moment’s hesitation the young mastermind claimed Anne Hegerty, also known as The Governess, takes the top spot with her incredible general knowledge and competitive streak helping her to win against so many of the country’s smartest people.

The Chase Australia is heading to primetime! Will the @sunriseon7 hosts be able to beat Supernerd @Issa25? 🤔 #TMS7 pic.twitter.com/jbag3RexkW

— The Morning Show (@morningshowon7) August 20, 2019

“Ohh Anne, The Governess, she’s amazing,” Issa said. “I did beat her at a world quiz this year so she’s not too happy about that but she’s just amazing. She knows everything, she retains everything you say to her. I was actually asking her advice last night on places to eat in Sydney.”

Kylie then jumped in, claiming Anne comes across as a “bit scary” on the show. However, Issa explained this is simply her competitive nature. But he did warn of the certain etiquette they have to follow while on set, so as not to annoy Anne before she steps out onto the platform to take on the brave competitors.

“The general etiquette is that if her dressing room door is closed you leave her alone,” Issa added. “If it’s open, come in and have a chat, but if it’s closed it’s Governess time, don’t come knocking.”

Issa isn’t the first one to speak out about his colleagues, with Anne herself revealing her thoughts on the Chasers in an exclusive chat with Starts at 60 previously. The Governess couldn’t pick one in particular as the best on the show and instead complimented all of her fellow quiz masters for their differing qualities.

“It depends what qualities you’re looking for,” she explained. “Paul is the best quizzer, he scores highest. Mark is the fastest, if you’re going to score a 24, the one you don’t want to be facing is Mark, he has the best chance of hunting you down. Jenny is also very fast and she’s tremendous at low-brow popular culture. Shaun is one of the best football quizzers in the world. He’s taken apparent football experts to pieces.”

Meanwhile, host Andrew O’Keefe described the Chasers as some of the most extraordinary and interesting people and said they are all close friends.

During another chat with Starts at 60, he explained: “We’re excellent friends, the whole crew has worked together for around 14 years because it’s essentially the same crew that recorded ‘Deal or No Deal’. We know each other quite intimately, I think the contestants might sometimes get a little confused by the in jokes, the nicknames, the banter that goes on.”

Asked how the Chasers get on backstage, and whether they’re different to their on-screen personas, Andrew added: “Anne and Mark bring a certain authority with them because they’ve been at it so long in the UK. But you’d never know it with Anne. She’s an incredibly humble sort of person, despite the demeanour as the Governess.

“Mark is, in every sense, larger than life. Some people can find it a little over-bearing, but beneath those levels of bravado is just a little boy having the time of his life.”