Issa Schultz is known for his talent for answering trivia answers on The Chase Australia – and now The Chase New Zealand – as well as for his hilarious quips. But the fact he makes his living talking on TV is something his family never dreamed would be possible.
“I don’t know why, I was just completely silent,” says Issa, whose nickname is The Supernerd.
“They think I had a comprehension issue. “We worked on my hearing, we worked on speech therapy – or sheep therapy as I used to call it because I couldn’t pronounce some words properly. It all came good when I was about seven or eight. “But before that, my parents feared the worst. They thought I wouldn’t have any sort of intelligence because I wasn’t responding. My mum was in tears believing I wouldn’t amount to anything. So to go from that to this job is a pretty steep rise.”
Issa, 41, who was born in England and emigrated with his family to Australia when he was 11, thought he was destined for a lifelong career in finance. He was working for a bank and “obsessively quizzing” as a hobby – he’d been on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire – when he was asked to audition for The Chase Australia in 2015.
Feeling lucky and following his passion
He feels very lucky to have got the role and be able to make a living from doing what he loves. He gave up his banking job after the first season. It does have its stresses, though, and he reveals the Chasers can use a psychologist’s services if they need to.
“The counselling is available if we lose a few games in a row and feel that things are going wrong, or if we find the public attention a bit much,” he shares.
Seeking professional support
Issa saw a psychologist during his fourth year on The Chase Australia when he had a run of losses.
“I was doing silly things,” he recalls.
“It was like my brain was not in the zone. I wasn’t sleeping well and I was worried they were going to let me go as I was losing too much money. “So I saw this guy, a sports psychologist who mainly works with AFL players who have retired and are struggling. I wondered how that was going to work, but he said to me, ‘Quizzing is your sport.’ We had a few sessions which were a massive help. I got back to my usual self.”
Handling fame as an introvert
Despite being a self-confessed introvert, he hasn’t struggled with the fame that’s come with being on television.
“They warned us from the very first audition we would be stopped in the streets by people and they would treat us as if they knew us,” he tells.
“I do get stopped – usually in awkward places, like the middle of an aisle in the supermarket when it’s busy – but people are always so positive. I’m happy to talk to them, in fact, I usually talk too much. “I’ve had friends with me who’ve said afterwards, ‘I think they were trying to get away but you kept talking.’ I just get passionate talking about The Chase and there’s also a bit of nervous chatter.”
Nerves ahead of The Chase New Zealand
Issa admits to a few nerves about appearing on The Chase New Zealand. This is especially as he hasn’t had much chance to swot up on Kiwi trivia.
“I’m also a bit worried about offending people by mispronouncing words,” he reveals.
“I’d like to apologise now – please forgive me, New Zealand!”
Flattered to join the special show
But he’s very flattered to have been asked to take part in the special show. The show comprises four episodes hosted by Paul Henry, and features him and Anne Hegerty, The Governess from the original version of The Chase. She regularly travels to Australia from the UK to film the Aussie version and has become great mates with Issa.
“We have a lot in common – similar senses of humour, and we’re both desperate and dateless,” he laughs.
From imtimidation to friendship
“Although I think Anne likes being single, whereas I don’t. She’s very funny, but I was terrified of her when I first met her. “We went out to dinner, just the two of us, just before filming the first show and I barely said a word because I was so scared. But we clicked and we’re very good friends now. “She does have a bit of a potty mouth, though. I was shocked to hear some of the things she came out with after her losses. But she’s never nasty. She’s not that sort of person. She’s an absolute sweetheart.”
The Chase New Zealand screens Mondays at 7.30pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+.
