‘It’s a big risk’ admits The Chase’s Jenny Ryan as she reveals new project away from Vixen role on hit ITV show
Jenny Ryan, known to many as The Vixen from The Chase, is embarking on a new adventure that promises to reveal a different side to her.
Starting this September, Jenny will hit the road with her Out of the Box tour, which is set to run until November 2024.
The Chase star shared that her upcoming performances will feature a blend of singing, comedy and quizzing.
Jenny recently appeared on Good Morning Britain, where she let viewers know what to expect from her tour.
She shared her excitement and nerves about stepping away from her stern quizmaster persona with the new venture.
Speaking to show host Ed Balls, Jenny explained: “We took the show to Edinburgh Fringe last year really on sort of a whim.
“It’s a big risk to take something like this, as presenters know, after a stern role and you try something new.
“It’s a bit of a challenge for people to change their expectations and perceptions of you.”
The former MP joked “Tell me about it!”, referencing his segue from a political career into presenting.
When Ranvir Singh suggested that Jenny might find it difficult to return to The Chase after opening up to audiences, she said: “Putting myself out there to show a softer side of me, putting everything out there, my background, everything… was a bit of a risk.
“But we sold out [at the Fringe] and we got such excellent feedback.”
The official blurb for Out of the Box reads: “Jenny Ryan, better known as the dream-crushing brainbox The Vixen on the hit ITV quiz The Chase, breaks away from teatime telly and invites you to an evening of song, storytelling, and even some showbiz secrets.
“Join Jenny on a journey through her life and times via some of her favorite tunes, sung live with the powerful voice which blew the judges away on X Factor Celebrity.”
Jenny is set to tour locations in the UK ranging from Lichfield to Stafford.
The Chase: Current lineup of Chasers on the ITV show
The Chase first premiered on ITV back in 2009 and has become a firm favourite among viewers since then. The roster of professional quizzers ('chasers') has grown significantly since the show's launch.
- Mark Labbett (2009 – present): Known as ‘The Beast’, Mark is a former Maths teacher and previously won £32,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Mark has also reprised his role as a Chaser in the US and Australian versions of the show.
- Shaun Wallace (2009 – present): Shaun, a barrister and former Mastermind champion, goes by the ‘Dark Destroyer’. Shaun has appeared on the Australian version of The Chase. In 2008, he finished as runner-up to Barry Simmons in Are You an Egghead?, a contest to find a new member of the then-BBC quiz team.
- Anne Hegerty (2010 – present): A former contestant on Mastermind, Fifteen To One and Are You an Egghead?, Anne goes by ‘The Governess’. Since joining The Chase, she appeared on I’m A Celebrity… in 2018.
- Paul Sinha (2011-present): Comedian and qualified doctor Paul joined the Chaser line-up in 2011, taking the nickname ‘The Sinnerman’. He has appeared on The Weakest Link, University Challenge and Brain of Britain. In 2018, Paul starred in series 8 of popular game show Taskmaster.
- Jenny Ryan (2015 – present): Known as ‘The Vixen’, Jenny was previously in a winning team on Only Connect. She also appeared in Mastermind, The Weakest Link and Fifteen To One before joining The Chase in 2015.
- Darragh Ennis (2020 – present): A postdoctoral researcher, Darragh joined The Chase in 2020 as ‘The Menace’. He is the first former contestant to join the line-up, having been part of a winning team against Paul Sinha in 2017.