The Chase star Anne Hegerty never loses the plot when it comes to backchat with contestants – which could come in handy in her new role. Because the 63-year-old quizzer is set to become a sitcom actress.
Anne is lined up to play a weary housekeeper in a show called Gammon, and it’s been created by Adam Bostock-Smith who writes for the hit ITV game show.
A delighted Anne said: “Being on The Chase is the best job I’ve ever had but I’d love to do a bit of acting.
“I would like to be funny. Our writer Adam has written a sitcom called Gammon about these two dim brothers who live together. I’m the housekeeper and I’m the only sane person in the place.
“We don’t know what channel it will be on yet, but there is a full script for the pilot episode and an outline for the first six episodes.”
Anne, nicknamed The Governess on The Chase, says she loves comedy so much she’s always getting Adam to pen her funny lines on the show hosted by Bradley Walsh.
“You’ve got to have a laugh,’ she said. “And Adam’s brilliant. I always try to use as many of the funny lines he suggests as possible.” Anne jokes that her dream is to star opposite comedian, actor and film-maker Mel Brooks. “He is 96 and still alive and I just love him,” she said.
Anne has been a Chaser since 2010 and became such a household name she was chosen as a contestant on the 2018 series of I’m a Celebrity.
That’s along with spots on rival TV quizzes like Fifteen to One, Today’s the Day, Are You an Egghead? and Brain of Britain. Anne lives in Manchester and has Asperger syndrome but was not diagnosed until 2003 when she was 45.
Her co-chasers include Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan, and Darragh Ennis.
Anne says she’s never found showbiz to be a male dominated industry – and prefers working with men. “I actually prefer men to women,” she said. “I would rather hang out with men. I trust men more.”
