Remember Jenny Ryan? You’d better sit down before you see her in the Now Week studio

ITV viewers have long known Jenny Ryan as "The Vixen" – one of the most flamboyant chasers on the popular quiz show The Chase. However, not everyone knew that long before that, she appeared on another cult intellectual show – and looked completely different back then. Fans were surprised to spot a familiar face in an old episode of Only Connect on the BBC. It turned out it was the same Jenny Ryan, 15 years before she became the star of The Chase. Victory long before fame. Back in 2010, Jenny won the third season of Only Connect. Later, in 2011, a special episode featuring the champions aired, in which she reappeared with her team. This episode was re-aired on BBC Two last year, attracting viewers' attention. Competing as part of the Gamblers team, along with Dave Beall and Alan Gibbs, Jenny faced the winners of the following season, the Epicureans. At the beginning of the show, host Victoria Coren Mitchell introduced the contestants, describing Jenny as a law school graduate who enjoys poker and bingo. Viewer Reactions: During the rerun, social media exploded with comments. Many admitted they didn't recognize the future star of The Chase. Some wrote that they only guessed who she was because of the caption with her name. Others noted that only her distinctive accent and facial expressions helped them recognize Jenny. Some viewers were frankly surprised by how different she looked without her usual glasses and signature hairstyle. Questions like "Is this really the same Jenny Ryan from The Chase?" began to appear, and some even said they were shocked by her appearance in that episode. Jenny Ryan herself hinted to her followers in advance that an archived episode featuring her would air. In 2024, she posted an old photo from the set of Only Connect on social media, captioning it: "2011. That moment when your team is fighting for the title of champion of champions." Career before and after The Chase. Before joining The Chase in 2015, where she became a regular under Bradley Walsh's direction, Jenny had already made her mark on other intellectual projects. These included University Challenge and Mastermind, where she demonstrated deep knowledge, including on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Today, viewers can see Jenny not only on the main show but also in the spinoff Beat the Chasers, which has been airing on ITV since 2020.