Last week, The Chase’s Governess, Anne Hegerty, was defeated by her own contestants.
Fans saw her go head-to-head with Murray Fraser, Monica Lenaz, Ben Quinn, and Helen-Mary McMeekan, who walked away with a record-breaking $141,000.
This marked the largest prize ever won on the Australian version of the show, surpassing the previous record of $129,000 set in May earlier this year.
On Tuesday’s episode of Sunrise, Anne Hegerty broke character while discussing the team’s win and her own loss.
“The money isn’t coming out of my pay packet, but we don’t like losing, obviously,” she told hosts Nat and Shirvo, noting that the Chasers are all highly competitive.
She added with a laugh, “The frustrating thing is I used to like trigonometry! I probably could’ve answered that question.”
Hegerty appeared alongside Mara Lejins, aka the Smiling Assassin, who spoke about the pushbacks on the show.
On The Chase, a pushback happens when the Chaser gets a question wrong in the final chase, giving the competing team a chance to answer it correctly.
Hegerty faced several pushbacks, which contributed to her loss. This led Shirvo to ask Mara Lejins, aka the Smiling Assassin, if multiple pushbacks make for the “worst possible scenario” for a Chaser.
Lejins explained, “It’s really hard, because as a Chaser, no one is cheering for you. No one wants you to win. It can feel overwhelming you get a question wrong, the other team gains momentum, and it just stops abruptly, especially if you realise your mistake.”
She added, “Sometimes when we lose, it might look like we’re bad sports, but that’s not true. In my rational brain, I’m really happy for the team. We’re very competitive, and it’s our job.”
Hegerty noted that maintaining focus and not losing concentration is key during the game.
Hegerty explained that when she gets a question wrong, she focuses on The Chase host, Larry Emdur, to stay in the moment.
“You have to stay completely focused,” she said. “If you get something wrong, whether it’s because you didn’t know or made a mistake, just move on. Focus on Larry and answer the next question.”
Lejins follows a “three-second rule” for quick decision-making. “You have to be tactical. If I think I know an answer, I give myself three seconds,” she said, noting the importance of not wasting time.
Lejins admitted she’s not great at NRL but follows AFL as a big Sydney Swans fan, and also enjoys tennis.
Hegerty, who has gained significant celebrity from the show, spoke about her time in Australia. “I’m not much of a sightseer,” she said. “When I’m not working, I like to chill in the hotel, play quiz games online, and read Wikipedia — I’m probably the world’s most boring person.”
However, she enjoyed exploring Melbourne on her first visit for The Chase Australia. With a three-week break between filming, she visited the Botanic Gardens, the museum, the library, the zoo, and even saw Phar Lap.