‘Oh, just go away’: Anne Hegerty defends The Chase’s integrity amid cheating claims

Renowned star of The Chase, Anne Hegerty, has robustly refuted cheating allegations in a recent interview, shedding light on the challenges she and her colleagues face from skeptical viewers.

In a recent interview with the Daily Star, the 65-year-old TV personality shared insights into the varied accusations hurled at her and fellow Chasers. Addressing claims of receiving external assistance, she explained that the public say “all sorts of things”.

“They ask me if I cheat. They say, ‘You’ve got someone in your ears telling you the answers’,” she explained.

Hegerty also debunked speculations about host Bradley Walsh’s role in the alleged conspiracy.

“Others say Bradley reads the questions faster for the Chasers. I’ve checked with a stopwatch and he doesn’t do that,” she said.

Injecting humour into the situation, she quipped, “If the show did any of that, wouldn’t they get six better-looking people?”

“There are always going to be cynical people, but we have independent adjudicators – there’s nothing secret happening. It wouldn’t work if it wasn’t all above board.”

Responding to persistent skepticism, Hegerty shared her pragmatic approach: “Sometimes I respond and sometimes I think, ‘Oh, just go away… you’ve been saying this for 14 years… just shove off’.”

Downplaying the need to engage with baseless accusations, she remarked, “It’s not really worth it. People are always trying to find a reason not to trust something – they think they’re really clever.”

Addressing doubters directly, Hegerty invited them to challenge the Chasers firsthand: “If people want to see how good we are, they can go against us. We’re always going to quizzes that are public. I go to quizzes a lot to maintain my skills. Sometimes I lose and sometimes I win.”

In addition to taking those making baseless allegations to task, Hegerty also enjoyed a resounding triumph over internet trolls recently.

The popular quizmaster, known for her sharp wit and encyclopedic knowledge on the popular quiz show, found herself in the crossfire of body-shaming trolls who took to Twitter to make unwarranted comments about her physique.

Instead of letting negativity prevail, Hegerty chose to hit back which prompted an outpouring of support from fans worldwide.

Bet I’m healthier than you, mate. https://t.co/nZlz0gnjQe

— Anne Hegerty (@anne_hegerty) December 2, 2023

Her message struck a chord with fans, who swiftly rallied around the TV personality, expressing their admiration for her resilience and standing against body-shaming culture.