Before they were Chasers: See ITV's The Chase stars in their early quiz show days

The Chase has been a staple in many of our lives since it first aired in 2009 - and in that time we have grown to love the famous Chasers - but what did they look like before they were famous?

It's been a whopping 15 years since The Chase first graced our screens on ITV, and it has since become a staple in homes across the country. Presented by Bradley Walsh, The Chase pits a team of four strangers against one of the show's quiz experts - The Chasers - in a quest to bag a cash prize.

Boasting some of the most renowned quiz minds on telly today, we all have our favourite. Chasers Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis have been lighting up our screens for years now.

They also feature in the spinoff show Beat the Chasers on ITV. Prior to their fame, several of them made appearances on various well-known quiz shows, as previously reported by My London.

In this piece, we delve into what each Chaser looked like before they hit the big time, as well as what life was like for them prior to their rise to stardom. Regrettably, we couldn't unearth a throwback snap of Paul 'The Sinnerman' Sinha - but that doesn't diminish our affection for him.

Find out more in our list below. The Chase is broadcast weekdays at 5pm on ITV1, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Mark Labbett.

Known on The Chase as 'The Beast', Mark ascended the ranks to become one of the most formidable chasers to defeat, and viewers relish watching him attempt to triumph over contestants. The 59 year old has featured on The Chase since its inception in 2009 and he's also appeared on the Australian and US versions of the show.

Mark Labbett, known as The Beast on The Chase, studied maths at the University of Oxford and obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). He used these qualifications to become a maths teacher and a PE supply teacher.

His passion for quizzes was ignited during his time working at Butlins holiday camp, where he supplemented his income with quiz machine winnings.

Given his remarkable general knowledge, it's no shock that Mark has been a contestant on some of UK television's most esteemed shows including Egghead, Mastermind, and University Challenge. He also came second on The People's Quiz and Brain of Britain.

In 2006, Mark appeared on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, walking away with £32,000 after incorrectly answering his £64,000 question.

Shaun Wallace

Shaun Wallace, also known as The Dark Destroyer on The Chase, is renowned for intimidating players during a 'one-question shoot-out' and takes pleasure in dominating over the show's contestants. When he's not quizzing, the 64 year old practises as a barrister and juggles his legal responsibilities with filming the popular series.

Shaun joined The Chase when it launched in 2009, but this wasn't his first TV appearance. Given his high IQ, it's unsurprising that Shaun has tested his luck on other well-known TV shows before finding fame on The Chase.

Let's take a trip down memory lane to 2001 when Shaun faced the formidable Anne Robinson on the BBC programme, The Weakest Link. He battled against eight other contestants, aiming to be the 'strongest link' by answering the most general knowledge questions correctly.

He made it to the final five contestants but was ironically named the weakest link after being the strongest in the previous round, leaving the show with nothing. Since joining The Chase in 2009, the "Dark Destroyer" also featured on the Australian version of the popular quiz show in 2018.

Anne Hegerty.

Known as The Governess, Anne Hegerty became part of the Chasers team in the early days of The Chase, which first aired in 2009. The 66 year old officially joined the show in 2010, following the end of the first series.

Before her debut on The Chase, Anne was a reporter and features writer for the South Wales Argus before relocating to Manchester. She has also had a stint as a ghost writer.

However, she hasn't shied away from participating in other high-profile TV quiz shows over the years. "The Governess" has appeared on numerous quiz programmes prior to becoming a Chaser, including Mastermind, Fifteen to One, Today's the Day, Are you an Egghead? and Brain of Britain.

Anne Hegerty, known as The Governess on The Chase, first appeared on Mastermind in 1987. Her chosen topic was 'The Life and Works of Lorenz Hart', the renowned lyricist.

She also made an appearance as a "phone a friend" on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in 2010, aiding her friend Lisa Harman to secure a £75,000 win.

Darragh Ennis

Before becoming a Chaser, Darragh Ennis was a contestant on The Chase in 2017. Now known as The Menace, the 43 year old Oxford University researcher became the sixth Chaser to join the ITV series in 2020.

Despite his team squandering £2,700 of the £9k he banked by taking lower offers, Darragh's performance must have caught the eye of the show's bosses, as he was hired as a Chaser three years later. He has since starred in ITV's Beat the Chasers and recently celebrated with Liverpool FC fans at a local pub.

Jenny Ryan

Jenny Ryan, also known as The Vixen, joined the line-up of Chasers in 2015. Her first quiz show appearance was on University Challenge in 2003, where she represented the University of Leeds and reached the semi-finals.

In 2006, she was a contestant on BBC's Mastermind, choosing Buffy the Vampire Slayer as her specialist subject. She has also featured on Only Connect, Are You an Egghead?, Fifteen to One and The Weakest Link.

Jenny Ryan, a popular TV personality, is also quite active on social media. She frequently posts pictures on Instagram to give her followers a glimpse into her life off-screen.

In 2021, Jenny shared photos from her first day at primary school on Instagram, celebrating children's return to school after the summer break. The two adorable snaps show a very different Jenny from the one we know today from her television role.