The Chase star Jenny Ryan’s private life off-screen with actor partner

Jenny was already a familiar face on our TV screens before joining The Chase in 2015, having appeared on various quiz shows such as University Challenge, Mastermind, and Only Connect.

Before her on-screen career, Jenny worked behind the scenes as a researcher and writer on quiz shows like The Weakest Link and QI. 

In January 2025, Jenny revealed that she was in the process of moving house, and while she kept the details of her new place under wraps, the quizzer previously spoke of her hopes of swapping London for the countryside.

Appearing on the BBC’s Celebrity Escape to the Country in 2023 alongside her partner Thom, Jenny explained: “This is about me moving to what I call closer to home. London is where I have a home, but my home and my heart are always back up north.”

While Jenny had her sights set on a beautiful Lancashire cottage, the property got snapped up before she got a chance to view it for a second time with her parents. 

After the episode was repeated in September 2024, Jenny shared an update with her Instagram followers, noting that the process hadn’t been smooth-sailing. “What I really wanted to do was to take my parents to have a viewing and see what they thought, but by the time we could arrange that, someone else had put an offer in on the place,” she explained. “I mean, it’s a great place, so absolutely no wonder somebody snapped it up.”

Jenny is in a relationship with Thom Tuck, who is an actor, writer and comedian. The 44-year-old has made one-episode appearances in a number of hit shows, including The Crown, Fresh Meat and Babylon. He’s also appeared in theatre productions of Death of A Salesman and Three Sisters.

As for his comedy work, Thom has performed several solo shows and was even nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe for Thom Tuck Goes Straight-to-DVD, which subsequently transferred to the Soho Theatre and was adapted for BBC Radio. He’s also one-third of the acclaimed sketch troupe The Penny Dreadfuls, who have made two series for Radio 4 and several audio dramas, according to Thom’s website.

Jenny and Thom co-starred in the pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty at the Wyvern Theatre at the end of last year. While Jenny led the show as the Wicked Fairy Carabosse, Thom played King Keir.

Jenny and Thom sometimes share photos of each other on their respective Instagram pages. In April 2024, Jenny shared a sweet selfie of herself and Thom enjoying a refreshment in the sun. She captioned the snap: “Spring is here!”

In July, Jenny opened up about a personal health challenge, revealing she had undergone neck surgery to address issues with her thyroid gland.

Sharing the update alongside a photo of her recovery, Jenny addressed her new scar. 

“Hello my lovelies. You might notice my new scar. You’d be hard pushed to not spot it, given it’s right on the front of my neck,” she wrote. 

“As much as I’d like to have an exciting and glamorous reason (old timey duel, Olympic fencing practice, near miss with guillotine) the reality is not so sexy. My thyroid gland made a bid for fame and got so big it started causing some problems so we* chopped it out,” she continued. 

Fortunately, her recovery has gone well. “I’m fine. Surgery was all good and the consultant is very happy,” she reassured her followers. “My voice still works and it’s healing nicely. I had to stay quite still for a couple of weeks in case my head fell off** but we are grand now. Thanks to the head and neck gang and all the terrific people who looked after me at UCH. The NHS is beyond wonderful.”

Jenny wrapped up her post with a light-hearted clarification: “*Actual professional surgeons. **Hyperbole. Let me have this bit of drama, please.”

When she’s not competing against contestants on The Chase, Jenny loves to sing and play the ukulele. Back in 2019, she was a contestant on X Factor: Celebrity and placed third behind singing duo Max and Harvey and winner Megan McKenna.

Jenny also hosts the quizzing podcast, Fingers On Buzzers, alongside comedian Lucy Porter.