‘I didn’t understand what was going on’

The Chase legend Jenny Ryan previously opened up about her battle with depression and anxiety when she was younger.

The Vixen first joined the ITV show back in 2015, and quickly became one of the programme’s beloved stars. Famous for her red locks and top-notch knowledge, Jenny has amassed a loyal legion of fans over the years.

However, Jenny- who is on Beat The Chasers today (August 31) – hasn’t always had the confidence she has today…


Jenny opened up about her anxiety and depression battle (Credit: BBC)

The Chase star Jenny Ryan on secret health battle

During her childhood, Jenny struggled seriously with anxiety, which ended up affecting her schooling.

Talking to the Mirror in 2019, she recalled that she had been dubbed as “the genius of the family” when she was younger, with teachers predicting that she would go to “a top university” or “even be Prime Minister”.

However, things took a turn for the worse for Jenny.

The Chase star shared: “Suddenly, things got harder. I used to enjoy doing homework but stopped trying and felt drained. Anxiety started to build and I didn’t understand what was going on.”


The TV star thought her ‘brain was broken’ (Credit: ITV)

Jenny ‘flipped out’

Things then came to a dramatic head for Jenny during a university lecture.

She explained: “One day at uni it crystallised into something physical and I had an urgent need to go home. On my way to the train station I felt like I had a fish bowl on my head, as if I wasn’t part of the same world as everyone else.”

Jenny continued: “Back home I sat on my parents’ sofa and felt a lack of reality. My brain couldn’t process. I just flipped out. I thought – ‘what’s going on? Is my brain broken?’”

Thinking enough is enough, Jenny went to her doctor who “said it sounded like I could be depressed and had had an anxiety attack”. Jenny then admitted “the diagnosis was a relief”.

Meanwhile in 2019, Jenny opened up about how singing helped her when she was struggling with depression.

“I’ve always enjoyed singing as a hobby and an antidepressant. I started to sing a lot more during my twenties when I was struggling with depression. I think it should available on prescription, really,” she told heat Magazine.