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Jenny Ryan has candidly discussed the demanding journey she undertook to earn her place on The Chase. Recognised as The Vixen on the ITV programme, the 43-year-old faced competition from fellow quizmasters for the position across a six-month timeframe.

The selection procedure commenced following her appearance on The Weakest Link, where she took part as a civilian. Looking back on her experience on the programme, Jenny quipped that she still harboured "a lot of bitterness" from being eliminated by her fellow contestants.

"I was voted out second to last," she remembered. "I just missed the final and I had been the strongest link in every round."

When questioned whether it was a "competitive vote" from the other participants, she responded: "It really was, I was furious, they knew I was better, I was furious.

"I gave a really good exit interview, I was really mean about it," the quizmaster added with a chuckle.

Having been involved in the quiz circuit for numerous years, Jenny subsequently found herself trying out for The Chase.

Throughout six months, she undertook several auditions before a screen test alongside presenter Bradley Walsh.

Discussing the procedure on The Final FronTia with Tia Kofi podcast, she stated: "It wasn't an easy process though, I had been on the quiz circuit for quite a long time and I had known The Beast (Mark Labbett) for many years before he got the job.

"I had kind of seen everyone else come through the ranks of the competitive quiz world and wondered when my audition was and it was a really tough process, it was six months worth of auditions before they decided I got the job."

Having been acquainted with someone who had applied to work for MI6, Jenny claimed the recruitment process for The Chase appeared even more demanding.

"It's harder then getting into MI6," she added. When asked how she knew, the quizmaster joked: "I couldn't tell you if I had [applied]," before clarifying that she could "absolutely not" perform such a role.

"I was told by a friend of mine who got quite far through the application process," she explained, before elaborating on her experience.

Jenny joined the chasers in 2015 and has remained on the programme ever since, becoming the most recent addition to the panel until former contestant Darragh Ennis came aboard in 2021.

Previously addressing the shake-up, she told Radio Times Magazine: "It's great that the show is feeling refreshed by having a new face in there. Somebody who's up for the challenge, somebody who can join our ranks and just join step with us right away.

"Darragh's been practicing his whole life for this in the same way that the rest of us have - it's our dream job - so I'm absolutely delighted that he's with us and that's he's the new boy," she added.

Alongside fellow chasers Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Shaun Wallace and Paul Sinha, the team also takes on contestants in Beat The Chasers.

The Chase airs weekdays from 5pm on ITV and ITVX