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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

ITV Beat The Chaser's Issa Schultz 'felt like a zombie' as he stepped in for Anne

Issa Schultz has described the mad rush that happened when he was suddenly asked to fill in for Anne Hegerty on Beat the Chasers.

'The Supernerd' has been part of Australia's The Chase since 2015 and has now stepped in to cover The Governess on the UK show while she has tested positive for coronavirus. He appeared on This Morning today ahead of tonight's episode of the quiz show.

The quizzer found himself going from lying in bed to appearing on the show, with a lack of sleep, within 24 hours of being asked. He described what seemed to be a whirlwind of excitement as he joined the UK chasers.

READ MORE: The Chase's Anne Hegerty's life before TV including living on brink of homelessness

Issa said that he received a call from a UK number at about 1am. With it being so late, he decided to ignore it but then received more calls. He said: "My Australian boss then rang me also at 1am and said you need to take this call, and you need to take it right now."

One of the show's executive producers, Helen, asked him to get on a plane ASAP. Issa said: "I spent all night packing, needed my clothes and my passport."

It took him three flights to get to the UK from Australia. He said: "I think it was just under 24 hours with all the stopping and changing. The day I landed we went straight to studio. There was no time for sleep.

"We had to get outfits worked out and straight in to gameplay. On the first episode, Mark 'The Beast' said 'if you're wondering why he's a bit quiet it's probably because he's feeling like a bit of a zombie right now'."

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