The Chase's Jenny Ryan tells of scammer break-in at her home

Jenny Ryan has been a fixture on the nation's television screens for almost a decade in her role as The Vixen on ITV quiz show The Chase. 

The 42-year-old from Horwich was on a quiz team with fellow Chaser Anne Hegerty in Bolton when she landed the role. 

On Friday morning, Jenny said she opened her door to a scammer, who posed as a contractor in order to deceive his way into her London flat. 

He stole her phone and three pieces of "irreplaceable" jewellery from her bedroom. 

Today, Monday, April 22, she appeared on BBC's Morning Live to tell of her ordeal.

She also raiseds concern about the lack of contact from the Metropolitan Police following her reporting of the incident. 

Jenny said: "He knocked on the door and he told me that the building manager was on his way, there had been a leak, it was to do with the new kitchen - and we have just had a new kitchen fitted. And he very quickly needed to take some pictures, it'll just take a minute.

Jenny Ryan appearing on Morning Live (Image: BBC)

"Maybe I questioned it a little bit, but I thought we have had so many people in and out, it's a quick job, go on, I'll let him in.

"He ended up getting into my bedroom with the door closed and when he left I realised he had taken my mobile phone and three pieces of jewellery that had been given to me by my parents for special occasions, and are irreplaceable. 

"I noticed right away because I needed to get to my phone because I was going to ring my landlord and say 'were we expecting anybody'.

"Unfortunately, by then, it was too late. I went onto the tracker and saw he was already at the tube station and probably halfway across London." 

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She added: "Immediately, and still now, I do feel quite stupid, and I feel gullible that I let this happen.

"I know I shouldn't be beating myself up too much because this was a very cunning scam and the fact that he was so credible and he had a very slick story and he looked the part. 

"It only took that second for me to accept that he was coming in, and once he was inside, it was too late, it would be too dangerous for me to challenge him, I was by myself. So it has left me feeling quite vulnerable, I'm a bit anxious to be in my flat and to be on my own." 

Jenny told hosts Gethin Jones and Helen Skelton that she "immediately" reported the incident online to the police. 

Jenny Ryan as The Vixen on ITV's The Chase (Image: Web)

She said: "Unfortunately, all I have had back from them is an automated email saying they are considering whether they are going to investigate or not. 

"I have told them that there are probably fingerprints because he moved furniture.

"There is lots of CCTV on my street, I know exactly where he went because I had the phone on tracker, but unfortunately what I really wanted was a police officer or someone from the local force to call me and make sure I was OK, because it's a very scary thing and I was feeling very vulnerable. 

"I'm still feeling anxious about the whole thing, I'm still feeling a bit silly about it, I'm full of regret - however, this is a lesson learned and I think most importantly I'm safe. 

"It was just stuff, it's replaceable. Hopefully there will be an investigation because I don't want this to happen to more people.

"This isn't just a chancer, he's going round targeting blocks of flats, people are working from home a lot more, and it's a very credible excuse to get over the threshold, that's all they need to do. I just want people to be a bit more aware than I was."

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the BBC: "(We) understand (Jenny's) frustration and are in the process of dealing with her call." 

Jenny, a prolific quiz contestant, has appeared in numerous TV shows, including Celebrity MasterChef and the final of X Factor Celebrity in 2019.

She was also awarded the degree of Doctor of Arts for her outstanding contribution to television and entertainment from the University of Bolton. 

Before joining The Chase, Jenny appeared on University Challenge in 2003 and Mastermind in 2006.