Shaun Wallace, the 66-year-old barrister known as the Dark Destroyer on ITV's The Chase, has issued an ultimatum: if the show adds another chaser to its roster, he will quit. Wallace has been a fixture on the programme since its 2009 debut, making him one of the original chasers alongside Mark 'The Beast' Labbett.
Wallace's ultimatum over crowded chaser line-up
In an interview with The Sun, Wallace stated: 'I can't see any other chasers being appointed. And if it got too crowded, I'd probably leave.' He added: 'I think if they had one more, then I'd consider it [quitting]. Because it would look ridiculous to have too many chasers.'
Since the show's inception, the chaser team has expanded significantly. Anne 'The Governess' Hegerty joined in 2010, followed by Paul 'The Sinnerman' Sinha in 2011. Jenny 'The Vixen' Ryan came aboard later, and Darragh 'The Menace' Ennis rounded out the group in 2020. Wallace acknowledged that some additions were necessary, particularly to address the gender balance. He said: 'There was three of us for two years. Then there was four of us for five. And, you know, that's when they decided that we needed another female chaser, which I think was good.' He noted that Ryan 'came out on top by a mile' during the contest to appoint the new chaser.
Viewer scepticism and new spin-off
Wallace also commented on audience reactions to new chasers, saying: 'They were sceptical when Jenny first came on. They were sceptical when Darragh first came on. Because they don't like change.' Despite this, viewers have recently been introduced to a new spin-off, The Chase Around the World, where six teams solve clues to track down Bradley Walsh and the chasers scattered globally.
Wallace, who has been on the show for 17 years, has built a successful career from his quiz expertise. When asked by The Times last year about his salary, he said: 'A lot. That's all I'll say. How many zeros? Well into six-zero territory and my earnings have increased massively since I've started working in TV.'
Impact on the show's future
Wallace's comments suggest that the current line-up of six chasers is at capacity. If ITV were to consider further additions, it could lead to the departure of one of its original stars, potentially altering the dynamic of the long-running quiz show.
