Former England bowler and Surrey coach Ryan Sidebottom has won ITV’s television quiz show, The Chase.
He played on behalf of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and donated his £29,000 worth of winnings to the charity.
The Chase is hosted by British TV personality Bradley Walsh and involves contestants answering questions against a ‘professional quizzer’.
Four contestants aim to amass as much money as possible in the early rounds to defeat the chaser in the ‘final chase’.
Sidebottom, who appeared on a celebrity Christmas special episode alongside Mark Chapman, Gillian Joseph and Fred MacAulay, successfully beat the chasers to secure a dramatic win. All celebrity versions of the show involve the contestants playing on behalf of a charity, and Sidebottom chose the Trust.
Sidebottom spoke to the players’ charity following his dramatic win and explained the emotions he experienced. He said: “I felt elated, ecstatic, there was a huge adrenaline rush and it was like walking out at Lord’s. There is plenty of tension and drama. I was a nervous wreck but it was amazing to raise that amount of money for the Trust.”
The Trust is a registered charity that supports the life-long health and wellbeing of PCA members and their immediate families. With the average cricket career coming to an end at the age of just 26 and involving large spells away from home, financial uncertainty and pressures of social media, the Trust aims to support players past and present to readjust for life beyond cricket.
As professional cricket’s leading charity, the Trust offers education, welfare and often a helping hand in times of trouble. The Trust also provides medical care and mental health counselling to ensure members get the support they need when they need it most.
Sidebottom, 43, who made 65 international appearances for England across all three formats, explained why he chose the Trust and what it was like to break the news to Sammy Relf, who is the charity’s Fundraising Executive. He said: “They work tirelessly to support past, present and future players. I am so grateful to raise such important funds for the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. For me to do my bit is an amazing feeling.
“It was quite emotional telling Sammy, who does so much work for the charity, that you have won that amount of money, it was a great feeling. I feel honoured and humbled to have done so.”
