The Chase stars reveal what it's really like being a Chaser on the hit quiz show

Meet the Chasers

The Chase, the popular ITV quiz show, features six quiz geniuses known as the Chasers. These include Mark Labbett, aka The Beast, who has been a mainstay of the show since its debut in 2009, and Shaun Wallace, also known as 'Dark Destroyer' and 'Legal Eagle.' The team also includes Anne Hegerty, also known as the Governess, Paul Sinha, aka 'Sinnerman,' Jenny Ryan, known as the Vixen, and Darragh Ennis, aka 'The Menace.'

What it takes to be a Chaser

Being a Chaser on The Chase requires a combination of extensive knowledge, quick thinking, and research skills. The Chasers revealed that despite their different professions, they find it relatively easy to juggle their work as quizzers with their other jobs.

Shaun Wallace, a barrister, shared that he uses his transferable skills from his legal profession to succeed on the show. He said, "I use my transferable skills as a barrister, thinking on my feet, researching, and being fearless in answering questions."

Preparing for the show

While being a Chaser may seem like a dream job, the stars emphasized the amount of research and preparation that goes into each episode. Shaun Wallace revealed that he spends about two hours a day on research, keeping himself up to date with the latest knowledge.

Darragh Ennis, who joined The Chase as a Chaser in season 13, shared that not only does he do five quiz competitions a week, but he also dedicates an hour a day to additional preparation.

Anne Hegerty, known as the Governess, revealed that her preparation includes participating in quizzes, reading, and researching various topics. She even takes part in an American online League and plays quiz games on a website called Sporcle.

Jenny Ryan, who previously mentioned that there's a touch of 'panto villain' in all the Chasers, stressed the importance of staying informed about current events and pop culture. She said, "You've always got to be looking at the news and what's changing in the world, the new things on TV, film, pop music and politics and always with that mind of how likely is it to come up at work."

A dream job

Despite the hard work and extensive preparation, the Chasers asserted that being a part of The Chase is a dream job. Paul Sinha revealed that he made a conscious decision to become good at quizzes in 2008, and three years later, he became a Chaser. He said, "It is the dream job nonetheless. I can't imagine doing a job that I'd enjoy more."

The filming process

Mark Labbett, known as The Beast, offered insight into the filming schedule for The Chase. He shared that they typically film three shows a day, four days a week, totaling around 200 episodes a year. However, next year, the number of episodes will be reduced to 160. Mark also revealed that there is often a backlog of filmed episodes due to the high production rate.

The Chase continues

The Chase, which attracts an impressive 3.5 million viewers per episode, airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 5pm. Contestants have the chance to test their knowledge against the Chasers for a chance to win a cash prize.