Anne Hegerty, known as The Governess on The Chase, has revealed she would choose comedian Omid Djalili to step in as host if Bradley Walsh ever decides to leave the ITV quiz show. Hegerty, 68, has been a chaser since the show's second series in 2010, working alongside Walsh, 66, who has fronted the programme since its launch in 2009.
Hegerty's preference for Djalili
In an interview with Metro.co.uk, Hegerty admitted she can't bear the thought of Walsh leaving but named Djalili as her preferred replacement. "I can imagine Omid Djalili doing it. It’d be quite fun. Who else? Maybe Stephen Mulhern but I think Omid is probably my preference. But, you know, Bradley is irreplaceable: let’s face it," she said.
Walsh's commitment to the show
Walsh has shown no signs of stepping down. Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2025, 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."
Djalili's memorable appearance
Djalili, 60, made a strong impression on Hegerty when he appeared on the celebrity edition of The Chase in 2020. Despite facing The Governess, he took the high offer of £128,000 and came close to winning for his charity, narrowly missing out. Hegerty gave him a rare standing ovation, saying: "Can I just say I think you were absolutely awesome. I have never done this before but I am giving you a round of applause."
Although Djalili has not commented on presenting The Chase, he revealed that his appearance led to a job offer from ITV. "It was offered to me about 10 minutes after I’d failed epically as a contestant on The Chase: Celebrity Special," he said. "In the green room, the producers told me about their new quiz format and how they thought I’d be a totally leftfield choice as presenter. ITV were gobsmacked at the idea of me doing it. That appealed to me." The show was Winning Combination, which Djalili presented for two series between 2020 and 2021.
