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Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Former The Chase contestant reveals why winners are told not to share the prize fund
The Chase has been on air via ITV since 2009 - and while winning the show is a rare event, one former contestant has revealed secret advice he was given about the prize money A former contestant from The Chase has revealed details of what happens if a team win the show - and the advice ITV gives regarding eliminated teammates and the prize fund. Viewers of the ITV show will be well aware that success is rare on the general knowledge quiz show. A group of four team together to test their knowledge against one of the genius Chasers - which includes Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Anne Hegerty, Jenny Ryan, Darragh Ennis and Paul Sinha. The brain boxes play under the respective code names The Beast, The Dark Destroyer, The Governess, The Vixen, The Menace and The Sinnerman. After the individual rounds, where the contestants try to get home without being caught, the team then take on the chaser in another round of general knowledge. If the team answer more questions correctly than the Chaser, they win the prize fund that has been amassed over the course of the show - but the money is divided between those that succeeded. If a teammate is eliminated before the final, the winning team members are seemingly advised not to share any of the money with team members who were caught during the chase rounds. A former contestant named Steven Sneade, 69, from Liverpool, revealed all to the Daily Mail. He said: "If you win you have to sign another contract as you're accepting money from them. They told us not to give money to the contestants who didn't win money just because you feel sorry for them. "They can't stop you, but I think they just don't want you to have that in mind. They said it could take three months, but I had it in a week." The Chase has been on the air since 2009 and has aired over 2,500 episodes so far. The long-running game show is hosted by Bradley Walsh, 65 - who also hosts a variety of other shows, including the BBC series Gladiators. While he has been helming the show for 16 years, the entertainer has revealed he has no plans to walk away from the show. In a recent interview, he explained he would quit if the series lost its audience. He said: "Until people say they've had enough and start switching off, I'll do it. We've had such an extraordinary time together. It's the best job in the world." He also reflected on filming the pilot episode, which was recorded back in 2008 with chasers Shaun Wallace and Mark Labbett involved. He recalled: "The audience was made up of ITV bosses and they found someone in the office to be a contestant." "Straight away I took the contestant's side. I saw the Chasers as these big, all-knowing, bully types, so I started taking the mickey out of them. When they got a question wrong, I really gave it to them, and everyone was laughing. That's when I knew we had something." The Chase has spawned a number of spin-offs - with celebrity specials and a version of the show were contestants can take on the whole line-up of chasers. International versions of the show have appeared in 20 other countries including Australia, the USA, Spain and Germany. Some members of the UK version of The Chase have appeared in international versions - with Mark and Shawn featuring in the line-up in Australia.
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
ITV The Chase removed from screens in huge scheduling shake up
ITV The Chase has been pulled off air in an unexpected scheduling change The Chase will not air on ITV1 tonight following a schedule shake-up. The popular ITV game show, presented by Bradley Walsh, has been removed from its usual 5pm slot to make way for the continuing coverage of Royal Ascot. The horse racing will be screened from 1:30pm - 6pm tonight, disrupting The Chase's usual time slot. No episode of the popular programme aired on Tuesday June 17. The schedule change is set to continue throughout the rest of the week, meaning no episode will air on Thursday or Friday either. Fans will need to patiently wait until next Monday (June 23) to see the show return to screens. The daytime TV behemoth features a team of the some of the UK's best quizzing gurus including Mark Labbett (The Beast), Shaun Wallace (The Dark Destroyer), Jenny Ryan (The Vixen), Anne Hegerty (The Governess), Paul Sinha (The Sinnerman) and Darragh Ennis (The Menace). The Chase first debuted on screens in 2009 and soon became a hit among viewers. Hopeful contestants battle it out and test their general knowledge skills as they attempt to beat the chaser and take home a whopping cash prize. It is not the first time the quiz show has faced disruption to scheduling. Earlier this month, it was taken off air to make way for coverage of the UEFA Women's Nations League, Spain v England. The Chase also had to switch up its usual time slot last week when two Soccer Aid for UNICEF Celebrity special episodes aired on Wednesday and Friday. Last Wednesday, Shaun Williamson, Lianne Sanderson, Dion Dublin and David James all teamed up to try and beat chaser Darragh Ennis. After four rounds, the entire team managed to make it back, and have been praised for their "superb" win after they managed to beat the quiz guru and take home £150k for UNICEF. The stars sent an impressive 23 score for Darragh which he was unable to beat. Fans at home were delighted as one said: "This is the best episode I've seen, they have to win this." Another chimed in: "Wow what a well deserved win. Such a great team! £150K." Meanwhile, Dermot O'Leary, Kyle Walker, Alex Brooker and Lynsey Hipgrave went up against Anne Hegarty on Friday night. For the special occasion, Anne switched up her usual ITV attire and appeared in a football top and red lipstick instead. She was also defeated by the team who managed to bag an incredible £169k for UNICEF after answering 21 correct questions. The Chase will resume its normal scheduling time slot of 5pm on ITV every weekday next week.
Edinburgh Live
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Inside The Chase star Shaun Wallace's life from retirement plans to family admission
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Shaun Wallace, fondly known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV's beloved quiz show The Chase, has become a familiar face in many homes. He shares the spotlight with host Bradley Walsh and a squad of quiz whizzes. The programme made its debut in June 2009, with Shaun and fellow star Mark Labbett being part of the original line-up. They remain key figures on the show today, joined by Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis. Prior to his rise to TV fame, Shaun was a practising criminal barrister, appearing in hearings at both the Old Bailey and numerous magistrates' courts across England, Wales and Scotland. His life took an exciting twist in 2004 when he clinched victory in the BBC general knowledge quiz Mastermind, choosing FA Cup Finals as his specialist subject. This triumph caught the eye of Bradley Walsh and his production crew, leading to Shaun being headhunted by ITV to become the inaugural chaser on The Chase. His popularity on the show paved the way for a host of other opportunities, including hosting quizzes on cruise ships, writing his own autobiography Catching A Dream, and making countless other TV appearances, according to Bristol Live. Despite his celebrity status, little is known about Shaun's personal life. Here, we delve into his life off-screen. Seven-figure earnings (Image: (Image: ITV)) In a recent chat, Shaun unveiled his impressive dual income, revealing that he now commands a hefty six-figure salary for his work as a barrister and TV personality. Mastermind champion Shaun has credited his victory on the popular quiz show for a significant boost in his bank balance. In a chat with The Times about his financial situation, Shaun coyly hinted at his increased earnings with a playful comment: "A lot. That's all I'll say. How many zeros?" He revealed that he is now: "Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I've started working in TV. I got paid well as a barrister but I'm now earning about ten times the amount I was before." Despite his rise to TV fame, Shaun also mentioned maintaining his career in law: "I still practise, though, so I have a dual income. Probably 70 percent of my income comes from my TV work and 30 percent from the legal side. Everything changed when I won Mastermind in 2004. Not just my finances, my whole life." Private romance (Image: Instagram: @theshaunwallace) Regarding his private life, Shaun, who is better known as The Dark Destroyer on The Chase, tends to keep details of his romantic encounters under wraps. During his candid chat with Loose Women's Kaye Adams on the How To Be 60 podcast, Shaun unexpectedly disclosed some personal updates about his romantic life. Carefully playing his cards close to his chest, he quipped: "I suppose I'm married to my career. Put it that way. I like that. I prefer that and I'm happier." When pressed about a significant other, Shaun simply stated: "Yes, I'm in a relationship." Never raising children (Image:) The 64-year-old typically reticent about his private affairs, offered insights into his personal life during a recent appearance on a podcast, revealing information often shielded from the limelight. Addressing the topic of fatherhood, Shaun admitted: "No, I have never had a child." He attributed his decision not to start a family to the demands of his budding barrister career, indicating that climbing the legal ladder hardly seemed compatible with responsible parenting. Shaun elaborated on his reasoning during the podcast, saying: "It was a conscious reason when I was a young struggling barrister. I didn't think it would be right to bring up a child when you're trying to climb to the top of that greasy pole." While he has not had any children of his own, Shaun has assumed a nurturing role in the lives of many as a godfather, undertaking parental responsibilities multiple times over. Shaun expressed unwavering satisfaction with his life decisions, declaring: "And I've never regretted that decision. I've got 15 godchildren. Two of them are called Shaun and I'm the best godfather in the world. I probably would have been a great dad but I've got no regrets in relation to that." Moreover, the television presenter plays a significant part in his ex's child's life, seeing this bond as truly meaningful. Beaming with joy, he explained how she became akin to a daughter for him, with her even referring to him as dad. With a tone of pure pride, Shaun remarked on witnessing her grow up: "I watched her grow into a lovely young lady. She got a first-class honours degree recently and she got her doctorate the other day and I was there." Retirement plans (Image: (Image: ITV)) The ITV star recently marked his 64th birthday, sparking queries from devotees about whether he envisaged hanging up his The Dark Destroyer persona on Bradley Walsh's smash-hit ITV programme, The Chase. Having been an integral fixture of The Chase since its debut in June 2009, Shaun shows zero signs of wanting to bow out. During a heart-to-heart with New Zealand Woman's Weekly, he voiced his plan to carry on in his vocation. He confidently disclosed: "I'm celebrating 40 years in the job this year and I have no plans to retire at 65 - I love it. I love quizzing too, so I will be doing that for as long as I can." Shaun recognised the transient world of television and maintained a grounded perspective on the longevity of the popular quiz show. Sharing his thoughts, he said: "I never take being on The Chase for granted. I know it could all end tomorrow, and I still pinch myself that we are celebrating our 15th anniversary this year." The Chase is available to watch on ITVX.
