Jenny Ryan: Partner, Weight Loss, Wigs, and Illness – Facts

If you’ve watched ITV’s The Chase and wondered about the sharp-witted woman behind the red hair and rapid-fire answers, you’re not alone. Jenny Ryan — better known to millions as The Vixen — has been a fan favourite since she joined the show in 2015. But lately, curiosity has shifted from her quizzing prowess to her personal life: her relationship, her appearance changes, and persistent rumours about her health. Here’s a clear, fact-checked look at what’s known and what’s still uncertain.

Born: 2 April 1982 · Age: 43 · Occupation: Quizzer, singer, television personality · Nickname: The Vixen · Known for: The Chase

Eight facts about Jenny Ryan, one pattern: most curiosity centres on her personal life, but only a few details are backed by reliable sources.

Who is Jenny Ryan’s partner?

Who is Thom?

• Jenny Ryan’s partner is a man named Thom, who appeared with her on BBC’s Celebrity Escape to the Country in September 2024 (BBC (public service broadcaster)). His surname has not been officially confirmed.
• Some outlets have referred to him as “Tom Tuck,” but that detail remains unverified (YouTube (user-posted clip)).

How long have they been together?

• Jenny has not disclosed the start date of their relationship. The earliest public reference is from the 2024 BBC programme.

The implication: the relationship is genuine but kept deliberately low-key.

Has Jenny Ryan lost weight?

How much weight did she lose?

• Jenny Ryan’s weight loss became noticeable in the early 2020s. A Facebook post from Plymouth Live claimed she lost “97 pounds” and was “roughly 8 stones down,” but the post is a third-hand account and not from Jenny herself (Facebook (regional news page)).

What caused her weight loss?

• Jenny has not publicly attributed her weight loss to any specific diet, exercise plan, or health condition.
• In 2025, she revealed she was “fat shamed” by a GP during a phone consultation (Liverpool Echo (local news)). She has also mentioned a past battle with depression, which can affect appetite and weight (Mirror (national tabloid)).

The trade-off: public curiosity meets private boundaries.

Does Jenny Ryan wear wigs?

Why does she wear wigs?

• Jenny Ryan has confirmed she wears wigs on The Chase for styling and practicality — not because of any medical condition (Digital Spy (entertainment news)).
• In 2022, she switched from her signature deep red hair to a blonde look, again using wigs to achieve the transformation (The Coast (New Zealand magazine)).

Does she have a natural hair condition?

• No evidence supports a medical reason for wig use. Her stylist-driven wig choices are a professional preference.

The pattern: what looks like a mystery is simply a TV professional’s tool.

What illness has Jenny Ryan got?

Has she spoken about any health issues?

• In 2019, Jenny Ryan spoke publicly about experiencing depression (Mirror (national tabloid)). She described it as a battle she managed.
• She has joked about having a “quiz brain” but has not disclosed any chronic physical illness.

Is the weight loss related to an illness?

• Jenny has not linked her weight loss to any illness. The depression disclosure is the only health condition she has publicly addressed.

What this means: the “Jenny Ryan illness” search results are largely conjecture.

Has Jenny Ryan been married?

Is she currently married?

• No. Jenny Ryan has never been married and is not currently married.

Has she ever been married before?

• No public records or interviews indicate a previous marriage.
• She is in a long-term relationship with Thom, but they are not engaged or married (official website (personal biography)).

The pattern: “Jenny Ryan husband” and “Jenny Ryan married” are common searches, but the verified answer is consistent — she is single and partnered, not wed.

“I’m a quizzer. I’m a singer. I’m a TV personality. I’m The Vixen.”

– Jenny Ryan, as quoted in her official website (personal biography)

“I was fat-shamed by my GP during a phone consultation. It was incredibly hurtful.”

– Jenny Ryan, speaking to Liverpool Echo (local news), 2025

Summary

For fans of The Chase, the curiosity about Jenny Ryan’s personal life is understandable — she’s a charismatic television figure who shares little beyond her quiz persona. The verified facts show a private woman who has never married, is in a steady relationship with Thom, uses wigs professionally, and has undergone a noticeable physical transformation without public explanation. The only health issue she has confirmed is depression, and even that disclosure came years ago. For the audience in the UK and beyond, the decision is clear: respect her boundaries, or wait for more — because she controls the narrative.