UK Chase stars reveal set gossip, secret jobs and the key to winning

People all across the world can’t get enough of The Chase and while there’s a local version hosted by Andrew O’Keefe in Australia, the original British version is also adored by audiences.

Stars of the UK Chase Mark “The Beast” Labbett, Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan and Shaun “The Dark Destroyer” Wallace appeared on This Morning in the UK earlier this week to discuss the success of the show. Of course, the trio were also more than happy to share some behind-the-scenes info with hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

While The Chase currently airs in 10 countries around the world, and there are talks for Canada, New Zealand and South Africa to get their own local versions of the show. Jenny revealed she has already been announced as a Chaser for the Irish adaptation of the series. The 36-year-old hasn’t been on The Chase for as long as some of the other Chasers, but revealed she actually wrote the questions for the show in the earlier years.

“I was sitting away in the office typing away, writing the questions that they [the other Chasers] had to answer and thinking, ‘I’d love that job’.”

When questioned why it took so long for her to appear on the show, Jenny joked that Phillip and Holly would need to talk to program’s producers. She also revealed that it was Anne Hegerty that ended up getting her the job, after the pair were in the same quiz league outside of The Chase. Meanwhile, Shaun explained that to become a Chaser, it requires someone having their own personality.

And despite being on one of TV’s biggest quiz shows, he also admitted that it’s actually his side job and he works another important job full-time.

“I’m a criminal defence barrister,” he revealed, admitting that he keeps his two very different jobs separate from one another.

“Obviously when I’m working as a barrister, that is real life, that is serious and I can’t help being recognised” he continued. “People take, especially juries, the evidence seriously, not the personality.”

During the chat, the stars also revealed how they remain so smart on the show, with Mark admitting all the show’s stars study religiously.

“You’ve always got to be looking at the news and what’s changing in the world,” Jenny added. “The new things on TV, film, pop music, politics and always with that mind of, ‘how likely is it to come up at work?’”

Shaun, 58, said the key to remembering was to be interested in a topic.

“If you were given time, you could actually recall what you just read, because you’re interested in that fact,” he told the hosts.

The team also revealed that while all Chasers used to be present for filming – even if they weren’t in an episode – this is no longer the case on the UK version of the show.

Read more: The Chase’s Anne Hegerty sparkles in slinky black dress at awards night

The stars ditched their usual TV personas earlier this week when they walked the red carpet of National Television Awards in London.

Anne looked lovely in a glamorous black, sparkly gown – an outfit far removed from her usual tailored jacket and buttoned blouse seen regularly the famous quiz show. Jenny oozed timeless glamour in a satin aqua dress, which matched perfectly with her vibrant red hair.

Shawn went all out in an orange suit, Mark wore a black suit and Paul Sinha channelled his inner James Bond in a snazzy tuxedo. The cast was also joined by producer Michael Kelpie.

Who is your favourite star on The Chase? Did you know any of these facts?