The Chase host Bradley Walsh was left utterly flabbergasted when Chaser Mark Labbett spilled the beans on pal Jenny Ryan's jaw-dropping former profession.
Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan, renowned as one of the sharpest Chasers in the game, has consistently dazzled with her brainpower, and it seems her enigmatic past may be the secret behind her quiz show supremacy. During Wednesday’s episode (December 20), a question about QI elves emerged, and Mark couldn't resist dishing the dirt on his fellow Chaser.
The Elves are the team of writers, researchers and comedians behind QI's shows, books and podcasts. After Mark and contestant Nuala both got the question correct Mark said: "Jenny was a QI elf."
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Bradley looked shocked and said: "She was not." Mark replied: "Why do you think she has so many green outfits?" “are you winding me up today or what?” asked a stunned Brad, as Mark insisted: "No I'm not, do you know where that knowledge base comes from, she genuinely was. QI elf."
And viewers at home were also shocked by Mark's revelation, with others expressing their love for the panel show. One fan said: "Jenny was a QI elf???????"
Another penned: “wow that’s so random can we see Jenny in a elf costume now?” Jenny Ryan is one of the newer arrivals on The Chase, having been a part of the series since 2015.
But her association with the show dates back further than that – prior to appearing on The Chase, she also worked as a quiz show question writer, and even penned questions for the series. Speaking to the Radio Times Jenny explained: “I actually worked on the pilot of The Chase and wrote the questions on it.
“All the questions I wrote have long since been used. If I could remember every question I ever wrote I’d be the world quiz champion.” As for The Beast himself, Mark Labbett worked as a PE and maths supply teacher in Newport, South Wales before becoming a chaser.
He’s also worked as a question writer for pub quiz company Redtooth, as well as at Butlins holiday camp – which is where he first began his forays into quizzing. Speaking to The Guardian in 2007 Mark explained: “I discovered the quiz machines in the bar.
“I really enjoyed playing and it was also lucrative. At the beginning of the week I banked my £55 wage, except for £3 or £4 which I played on the machines. By the end of the week, I’d have £200 in coins.”
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