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Privacy NoticeThe Chase’s Anne Hegerty opened up about how she developed her on-screen persona, The Governess, and the formidable quizzer detailed how it evolved following advice from a friend. It comes as The Chase, which will air a Celebrity Special episode on ITV on Saturday afternoon, as it continues to celebrates its 15th anniversary, sees a team of stars take on the Chaser in the hope of winning a charity prize. Despite being on the show for 14 years, there’s something about The Governess that many viewers won’t know – including when she opened up about the input she had when creating her alter ego.
The Chase star Anne Hegerty, who is also known as The Governess, has been on the show for 14 years and previously revealed inside details about creating her alter-ego for the show
(Image: ITV)
Appearing on an edition of Loose Women back in 2021, Anne said: “Originally, the character was going to be more sort of creepy. I remember saying I wanted her to be a cross between Caroline Aherne’s Mrs Merton and Daphne Fowler on EggHeads. “I wanted everyone to think in terms of Dolores Umbridge and how the creepiest thing about her was those damn kittens. And then a friend of mine said that’s a bit too different from what I’m like and I wouldn’t be able to maintain that.”
The Chase is celebrating its 15th anniversary
The Governess star continued: “So, I went and based her more on my grandmother who I did mention earlier and she was formidable. Also, one of my aunts and just this generically scary character [formed]. Americans have compared her to Professor McGonagall. I would rather be McGonagall than Umbridge any day,” Anne continued to explain as to why the original character changed. Having appeared on the quiz show since 2010, 65 year old Anne goes head to head with contestants in a test of general knowledge in a bid to stop them from building up their prize fund and walking home with the jackpot.
She takes on a whole new persona when she takes on the role of the stony-faced The Governess, who she modelled on the infamous Harry Potter villain
(Image: No credit)
As part of her role, Anne goes head to head with contestants in a test of general knowledge in a bid to stop them from building up their prize fund and walking home with the jackpot
(Image: (Image: ITV))
She takes on a whole new persona when she takes on the role of the stony-faced The Governess. Talking to OK ! recently, Anne admitted that, even after 15 years on the show, she’s afraid of breaking character from the harsh Governess she portrays. She said: “There was an episode we filmed a couple of weeks ago where I did come very close to corpsing. Bradley was trying to make me laugh. I think I held it together okay, but I can’t really tell you anything about it. It’s not gone out yet. I always think of myself of a terrible giggler. I’m always afraid that that’s going to happen.” Anne, who has previously opened up over her autism, also has let slip that what she enjoys most about The Chase is working alongside the programme’s host, Bradley Walsh. Anne has been on other shows like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, DNA Journey, and Cooking with the Stars. She said she wants to be like Bradley, who was in Coronation Street and The Larkins, and try acting too. The Chase is on every weekday at 5pm on ITV1Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnBradley WalshAnne HegertyLoose WomenThe Chase
