Anne Hegerty is known for rarely putting a foot wrong on The Chase—but even The Governess can have an off day.
The quiz expert stunned viewers during one episode when she confidently gave the wrong answer to what appeared to be a straightforward question, firing it out before host Bradley Walsh had even finished reading it.
Her mistake helped Rob, Jean and Catherine escape the Chaser and walk away with a combined £13,300 after nine push-backs. The episode left viewers particularly amused by Hegerty’s reaction after she realised exactly what had happened.
The Chase star Anne Hegerty had a shocking night and kept answering before Bradley Walsh had finished the questionCredit: ITV
Anne answers before Bradley finishes the question
The trouble began during the final chase when Bradley Walsh started reading:
“On the Road is a book by…”
Hegerty immediately interrupted with her answer: “Jack Kerouac.”
Under normal circumstances, that would have been a perfectly reasonable response. On the Road is famously associated with American writer Jack Kerouac.
But Walsh had not finished the question.
He continued: “…which Top Gear presenter?”
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The answer was Richard Hammond, who had also written a book called On the Road.
Hegerty was visibly caught off guard when she realised the question was not referring to Kerouac’s famous novel. Her habit of answering before Walsh reached the end of a question had suddenly worked against her.
A similar account of the episode noted that Hegerty’s rapid-fire answering was ultimately costly, with the contestants going on to win £13,300.
Viewers couldn’t get enough of The Governess’s reaction
The blunder quickly became one of the most entertaining moments of the episode for viewers watching at home.
Social media users shared jokes and screenshots of Hegerty’s expression, with many commenting on how furious she appeared after realising she had jumped in too soon.
One viewer wrote that “Anne is FURIOUS”, while another said her face told viewers everything they needed to know about the final.
Others simply summed up her performance with comments such as “Anne had a shocker!”
Another viewer praised the contestants, saying they had “annihilated The Chaser” and singled out Catherine for her performance.
Some fans were more sympathetic, pointing out that even the best quiz players occasionally have a bad day. One supporter wrote that Hegerty was “having a bad day” and added that it happens to the best.
The reaction was so memorable that Hegerty herself later acknowledged just how badly the day had gone. She revealed on social media that she had kicked the set backstage and had a crying fit in the canteen after filming.
The Chase contestants had viewers on the edge of their seats tonightCredit: ITV
The contestants seize their chance
Despite Hegerty’s unusually shaky performance, the contestants still had to make the most of their opportunity.
Rob, Jean and Catherine successfully completed the final chase and secured £13,300 after pushing The Governess back nine times.
Catherine, a police officer, was stunned by what she had witnessed.
“I cannot believe that, I’ve never seen her look like that before,” she told Bradley Walsh after the win.
Jean, who had attracted criticism from some viewers for accepting the low offer of £300 earlier in the game, was simply delighted to be part of the winning team.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, I know I didn’t contribute much but I’m still thrilled. Can we do it again?” she said.
Their victory turned what had looked like a difficult final into an unexpectedly memorable one.
Anne vows to slow down
Hegerty was clearly unimpressed with herself after the mistake.
Speaking to Bradley following the final, she acknowledged that her instinct to answer questions as quickly as possible had backfired.
“Obviously I’m going to have to start going slower and let you get to the end of questions,” she said.
It was a rare moment of vulnerability from one of The Chase‘s most formidable Chasers. Hegerty’s reputation is built partly on her ability to recognise answers almost instantly, but this time that speed worked against her.
The episode became a reminder that even an expert who appears almost unbeatable can be caught out by answering a question too quickly.
The Governess delivers another memorable moment
The Top Gear question was not the only moment from the episode that caught viewers’ attention.
Later, Hegerty had a playful exchange with Catherine when she admitted that she envied police officers and jokingly suggested she would like Catherine’s job.
“I want to be you. I envy police officers. Because I have to buy my own handcuffs,” she quipped.
The cheeky comment added another light-hearted moment to an evening that had already produced one of Hegerty’s most memorable The Chase blunders.
For once, The Governess was not the one laughing all the way to the finish line. Rob, Jean and Catherine were—and they had £13,300 to show for it.