Local quiz star raises funds for music therapy
Bolton-born television personality Jenny Ryan played a key role in winning more than £8,000 for the UK’s largest music therapy charity after appearing on a celebrity edition of BBC One’s The Hit List.
Ryan, who grew up in Horwich and is best known to millions as "The Vixen" on ITV’s The Chase, paired with performer La Voix for the fast-paced music-identification programme hosted by celebrity couple Marvin and Rochelle Humes. The duo progressed to the final round of the show and had the opportunity to play for the full £10,000 jackpot, ultimately securing funds for charity.
- Charity supported by Jenny Ryan: Nordoff & Robbins (music therapy)
- Charity supported by La Voix: The Albert Kennedy Trust (support for LGBTQ+ young people)
- Other celebrity pairs on the episode: Rav Wilding & Chesney Hawkes; Fatiha El-Ghorri & Harriet Kemsley
The episode featured three celebrity pairs attempting to identify hit songs and artists against the clock, with each second affecting the size of the potential prize. After another pair ran out of time in the deciding round, Ryan and La Voix earned their place in the Final Chart Rundown, giving them the chance to play for the programme’s maximum prize.
Marvin Humes introduced Jenny Ryan and La Voix as a pair of "redheaded divas" before they took on the competition.
Ryan has been a fixture on The Chase since 2015 and is also a trained musician and singer. Her background includes studies in law at the University of Leeds and earlier education at Thornleigh Salesian College. She also appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019, where she sang Queen’s "Somebody to Love" during the audition round.
Her teammate on the show, who performs under the name La Voix, is Christopher Dennis. La Voix has developed a varied career as a singer, comedian and drag artist with appearances on television talent shows including Britain’s Got Talent and RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Local impact and the causes chosen
The appearance carries a double local resonance: it highlights the cultural contribution of a Bolton-born figure on national television, and it channels funds towards charities with clear community impact. Nordoff & Robbins delivers music therapy services across the UK, while the Albert Kennedy Trust focuses on supporting LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness and housing insecurity.
| Participant | Represented charity |
|---|---|
| Jenny Ryan | Nordoff & Robbins |
| La Voix (Christopher Dennis) | Albert Kennedy Trust |
For Bolton residents, the episode is a reminder of local talent continuing to appear on national platforms and using that visibility to support charitable causes. Ryan’s mix of quizzing skill and musical ability made her a strong contestant in a show that rewards fast recall of songs and artists — an aptitude that complements her broader public profile.
Producers of celebrity specials often pair well-known faces from different entertainment sectors, and this edition exemplified that approach by combining a recognised television quizzer with a live-performance artist. The result was both an entertaining television moment and a tangible financial boost for the charities chosen by the pair.
The broadcast is likely to be welcomed in the town, where Ryan’s career remains followed by fans who remember her local schooling and early years. The money raised will support the respective charities’ work across the UK, including programmes that use music to assist therapy and services helping vulnerable young people into secure housing and support networks.
