The Chase star makes shocking confession about how much they’re paid on ITV series

Anne Hegerty looking stern on The Chase
Anne Hegerty has revealed how The Chase stars are paid (Picture: ITV)

Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty has revealed information about how The Chase stars are paid.

The 66-year-old OG star revealed that she is paid per episode for the popular ITV series, which began in 2009.

Currently, there are six chasers in total – Anne of course, Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan, and the most recent addition, Darragh Ennis – who each take their turn in the hot seat.

As a result of the pay structure, expert quizzer Anne isn’t too keen on another chaser joining the pack as it will mean fewer episodes and less money in her bank account.

‘Well we do always hope not,’ she said when asked about the possibility of a new quizzer on the show.

She continued to The Mirror: ‘It’s not as if they’re going to up the budget and add a new salary, a new chaser would just mean the same number of shows shared between more people – so less money for everyone. So, hope not!’

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (15047218c) Darragh Ennis, Jenny Ryan, Mark Labbett, Bradley Walsh, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha and Shaun Wallace. 'Beat The Chasers' TV Show, Series 6, Episode 1 UK - Jan 2025 Beat The Chasers, is a British ITV quiz show spin-off from the tv series The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh in which contestants play against a professional quizzer, the "chaser", who attempts to prevent them winning the cash prize. The Chasers include - Mark 'The Beast' Labbett, Anne 'The Governess' Hegerty, Paul 'The Sinnerman' Sinha, Jenny 'The Vixen' Ryan, Darragh 'The Menace' Ennis, and Shaun 'The Dark Destroyer' Wallace.
The episodes are split between the chasers (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

While she’s not keen for anyone new right now, she was happy for Darragh, 44, to join in 2020.

‘You know, Darragh has been a very good new addition, he’s very popular, and that’s worthwhile,’ she shared.

In fact, Anne gets along with all her co-stars: ‘We know each other, and certainly on Beat the Chasers we tend to hang out a lot, because we’re all there at the same time.’

Anne, who has also appeared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Mastermind and Catchphrase, is said to be worth an estimated £3.2 million. Her company, Frosty Knickers Ltd, had a healthy £807,257 cash in bank in August 2023 according to financial records on Companies House.

The Chase unveils new Chaser Darragh ?The Menace? Ennis Tonight ITV?s The Chase unveiled its sixth Chaser - Darragh ?The Menace? Ennis. Darragh joins the award-winning series? formidable quizzing pros Jenny ?The Vixen? Ryan, Shaun ?The Dark Destroyer? Wallace, Mark ?The Beast? Labbett, Anne ?The Governess? Hegerty and Paul ?The Sinnerman? Sinha. Dubbed ?The Menace? by host Bradley Walsh, Darragh, 40, is an Oxford-based scientist who hails from Dublin. His Chaser attire sees him sport a velvet paisley print jacket and bolo tie. He previously appeared on the show as a contestant, facing Paul in 2017. Of turning Chaser to join the smash hit series, Darragh said: ?I'm so pleased to be the sixth Chaser. It's brilliant to be on such an amazing quiz team, and so much fun working with Bradley Walsh. It's such an exciting opportunity and I can't wait to take on more contestants!" Host Bradley Walsh added: ?Another Chaser? ANOTHER CHASER? That?s another person cleverer than me on The Chase. I must have words with the producers. But I can?t wait to educate Darragh on the important things in life; custard creams, cowboy films and real ale.? Executive Producer Helen Tumbridge said: ?We?ve gone from the Fantastic Five to the Sensational Six. We all think Darragh is the perfect addition to our Chase family.? Creative Director, Potato, Martin Scott said: ?It?s a pleasure to welcome a past Contestant who is now our new Chaser to the family. I?m sure he?ll take no prisoners!?
Darragh ‘The Menace’ Ennis is the most recent addition to the series (Picture: ITV)

Shaun, 64, also known as The Dark Destroyer, has also given a clue on their earnings. He ‘earns about 10 times more’ as a TV star than when he was working as a barrister.

‘A lot. That’s all I’ll say. How many zeros? Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I’ve started working in TV,’ he told The Times when asked how much he earned.

‘I got paid well as a barrister but I’m now earning about ten times the amount I was before. I still practise, though, so I have a dual income.

‘Probably 70% of my income comes from my TV work and 30% from the legal side. Everything changed when I won Mastermind in 2004. Not just my finances, my whole life.’

Editorial use only Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/REX/Shutterstock (10441443r) Chaser, Shaun Wallace 'The Chase' TV Show UK - 2019 The Chase Celebrity Special, is a British ITV quiz show hosted by Bradley Walsh in which contestants play against a professional quizzer, the "chaser", who attempts to prevent them winning the cash prize. The chasers include - comedian Paul 'The Sinnerman' Sinha, Anne 'The Governess' Hegerty, Shaun 'The Barrister' Wallace, Mark 'The Beast' Labbett and Jenny 'The Vixen' Ryan.
Shaun is earning more as a TV star (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

While attending the TV Choice Awards, Anne also spoke to Metro and shared that she has ‘been known to kick the set’ in frustration.

However, while experiencing rage, Anne is still careful to make sure she doesn’t cause any substantial damage: ‘I’ve been known to ask beforehand if something is solid. I have slightly hurt my toe doing it but it’s important I don’t damage the set. I depend on it. It’s my bread and butter job.’

Even when she’s seemingly having a tricky time, Anne is always grateful to be at work on the show presented by Bradley Walsh.

Anne Hegerty attends the TV Choice Awards at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Picture date: Monday February 10, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Choice. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
The TV Choice Awards was attended by small screen favourites including Anne (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

‘Even if I have performed badly, even if I come down the steps and kick the set, because I’m so cheesed off it’s still the best job I’ve ever had,’ she stated. With her bottom line, we’d be grateful too!

‘I always say it’s the best job I’ve ever had because it just feels like my comfort zone.

‘I get up in the morning and I have coffee, I have to make myself go have a shower and get dry and then put my clothes on and get in the car, but when I’m actually on the floor about to film I think “I know what I’m doing now. Getting up and having a shower is the difficult bit, this is the easy part”.’

The Chase airs on ITV at 5pm on weekdays.

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