ITV The Chase's Anne Hegerty issues defiant one-word verdict on co-star Bradley Walsh

Anne Hegerty gushed over working with Bradley Walsh (Image: Getty)

Anne Hegerty summed up Bradley Walsh in one word as she discussed working alongside the presenter.

Anne, 66, began working with Bradley in 2010 when she joined the case of The Chase during its second series. The professional quizzer is now known as her alter ego, The Governess, on the hit ITV programme.

Describing what it's like starring alongside the former Coronation Street actor, 64, Anne admitted there is never a dull moment in the ITV studio.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk at The Pride of Britain Awards, Anne said: "He's hilarious. He's also generous. Bradley is very good and doesn't try and dominate the whole thing."

The I'm A Celebrity star added: "I mean, he does because he's Bradley and he's brilliant, but he's just so generous to the chasers, he always lets us have our moment so it's really lovely."

Anne Hegerty has been on The Chase since 2010 (Image: ITV)

The Chase fans can expect plenty of new episodes in the near future as Anne revealed the team have been filming new instalments.

Anne said: "We've been filming and we are back filming new episodes next week. We're getting to the end of series 17 and series 18 will be starting soon which is absolutely insane. When I joined in season two, who'd have thought."

Back in 2021, Anne opened up about what went into creating The Governess, confessing her alter ego almost turned out very different.

"Originally, the character was going to be more sort of creepy," Anne explained on Loose Women. "I remember saying I wanted her to be a cross between Caroline Aherne’s Mrs Merton and Daphne Fowler on EggHeads."

Anne is better known as The Governess (Image: ITV)

The TV personality continued: "I wanted everyone to think in terms of Dolores Umbridge and how the creepiest thing about her was those damn kittens. And then a friend of mine said that’s a bit too different from what I’m like and I wouldn’t be able to maintain that."

Explaining why her character changed, Anne added: "So, I went and based her more on my grandmother who I did mention earlier and she was formidable. Also, one of my aunts and just this generically scary character [formed].

"Americans have compared her to Professor McGonagall. I would rather be McGonagall than Umbridge any day."