The Chase star admits he was 'begged' to join rival show by BBC bosses

Edinburgh Live

20 hours ago

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One of the stars of ITV's The Chase has admitted that he was "begged" to join another popular quiz show at a time when he'd "retired from quizzing". In a recent episode of the New Mind podcast, Shaun Wallace, otherwise known as the "Dark Destroyer" on the hugely popular quiz show The Chase, opened up about a time in his life when he "retired".
Speaking to host Ella McCrystal, Shaun, who also works as a barrister, detailed how the early retirement came after his Mastermind win in 2004. He explained that after the win, there was nowhere to "go".
It would be another popular show that ultimately tempted the quizzer out of retirement. Shaun reports that those involved in the show were "begging" him to make an appearance, but he turned them down three times.
He suggested that the reason for this was due to his other commitments as a barrister, but the show offered him a compromise. Shaun eventually agreed to attend the audition.
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Shaun said: "Yeah, well, where could I go? I've won the best quiz show probably in the world, winning Mastermind. So, I stopped quizzing, then I was asked to come out of retirement by the Egg...because the Eggheads were looking for a new Egghead.
"Well, they were looking for a new Egghead, and I turned them down three times, and they were begging me. They even got I think the producer of the show at the time, rang me at home, and I said: 'Look, I'm not really interested.'"
He added: "And they just kept on ringing, kept on ringing. I said: 'Look, I can hardly say to a judge: 'By the way, your honour. Can I nip out and do a quiz show?' He would of told me where to get off."
However, Shaun was informed that his filming would be completed on weekends, so he went along to the audition and ultimately reached the grand final. He described himself as a "gunslinger" who was asked to come out of retirement for one more "showdown".
Afterwards, he "retired again" before receiving a call in 2008 asking him to join an "exciting new gameshow concept."
Just one year later, in 2009, he joined The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh..
(Image: Dave)
It follows reports that Shaun has joined another ITV show, one that's unlike anything he's appeared in previously. Speaking on X, the quizzer revealed he was joining its new reality series The Great Escapers.
In the show, famous names from various backgrounds embark on a holiday as they compete to arrange the best day out. Shaun is joined on the show by fellow Chasers Mark Labbett and Jenny Ryan.
The post read: "Very excited to be filming in Rhodes for a new show called 'The Great Escapers' with Mark @MarkLabbett and Jenny @jenlion. Looking forward to having a lot of fun with those two. Doing a spot of fitness in the sunshine, before we get going."