Mark Labbett, known as The Beast on ITV's The Chase, has opened up about the moment he discovered Bradley Walsh's true colours and the unexpected lesson he learned after filming the show's debut episode in 2009.
Lesson Learned After First Episode
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Labbett recalled the early days of the hit daytime quiz, which launched in 2009 alongside Walsh and fellow Chaser Shaun Wallace. He said: "We were just commenting that we'd just had our 2500th episode broadcast. We did the first one, and, me being me, I knew it was on the 3rd of June, 2009."
He added: "On the 4th of June, 2009, it was Bradley's birthday, and there I learned a very important lesson ... don't try and match Bradley drink for drink."
Close Cast and Walsh's Role
The 60-year-old said the cast have remained close over the years, with Anne Hegerty even becoming godmother to his son, Lawrence. He also credited Walsh as the driving force behind the programme's success, saying: "I'm tempted to be cheeky and say it's me, but, no, I think that we're lucky we've got Bradley, who in my opinion is the best game show host in the English-speaking world, and as I've worked around the world, I can say that with some confidence."
He continued: "He's a natural professional ... and he's also very generous. He lets the contestants in, he lets us in. I think we have a huge advantage in that we have potentially five conversations going on: Bradley and the contestants, us and the contestants, us and Bradley, the three of us all together ... so it feels much more natural and organic. To a certain degree, it's more like a bunch of people at the bar trying to put one over on each other."
From Teacher to Chaser
Before joining The Chase, Labbett worked as a mathematics teacher while making a name for himself on quiz shows including Mastermind and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? He said he already knew producers wanted someone with an intimidating presence when he auditioned.
He explained: "I had an advantage. I'd heard they'd asked for me because they were looking for someone on the national British quiz circuit who was a decent player, and someone ideally who can be intimidating and confrontational. For some reason, my name kept coming up ... I understood theatrics, so everybody else went to the auditions wearing their best jumpers or maybe a suit."
He added: "I went along wearing my old Soviet army-style raincoat. I stride in and duck under the doorframe, my coat's flailing behind me like Batman's cape, and the first producer said, pretty much, 'you got the job at that point'. The fact that I could then back it up with knowing a few things added nicely to it."
Comparing with Shaun Wallace
Comparing himself with Shaun Wallace, Labbett admitted: "Shaun is the nicest guy in the world. I wish I had his work ethic. He's unbelievable. If I had his work ethic, I'd have been a headmaster or principal by 35. I'm brilliant but lazy, as I modestly say."
Instead, he said he naturally absorbs information, explaining: "I go through life and I'm just great at absorbing things. So going down the street, I'll clock the billboards for the latest films or books or TV series."
Mark Labbett will appear in The Chase Around The World on Thursday, August 6, on ITV at 9pm.
