Biggleswade actor comes close to winning £10k on ITV’s Beat The Chasers

Emma Newton-Williams on Beat The Chasers PHOTO: ITV Pictures

Mum Emma Newton-Williams took centre stage on Monday night’s episode as she went head-to-head against some of the nation’s favourite quiz geniuses from The Chase.

In a solid start, Emma won £1,000 in her “Cash Builder” round, before choosing to take on four chasers.

After opting to play against Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan, Anne “The Governess” Hegerty, Paul “The Sinnerman” Sinha and Mark “The Beast” Labbett, Emma unfortunately just ran out of time.

The 37-year-old, who enjoys running in her spare time, answered her last three questions incorrectly, while the chasers had six seconds remaining on their clock.

She said: “For someone who works on television and stage, I was incredibly nervous. It’s because when I’m performing I’m always playing a character, so to be up there as myself is quite difficult for me. It’s exposing.

“I don’t regret choosing to play four chasers at all. I was trying to make it worthwhile and I always said I wouldn’t take them on if the time difference was only 10 seconds. It just didn’t go my way in the heat of the moment.”

Emma began her career in TV and made her debut as Truly Scrumptious in the original production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opposite Michael Ball, when she was 18. Since then she’s appeared in numerous productions, won multiple accolades and has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award four times, one of the biggest honours in the theatre scene.

“My family and friends are all proud of me and a bit gutted too I didn’t win,” said Emma.

“The money could have made a big difference to my family right now.

“Bradley [Walsh] was lovely, very friendly and funny. It would be nice to meet him again in an acting capacity because I would love to get a chance to work with him.”

There was some controversy surrounding the quip Paul Sinha made moments after Emma had been defeated [about getting a degree first – then thinking of a career in entertainment], but she insists no offence was taken and even offered her own witty response. The pair have since chatted amicably about it on Twitter.