Shaun Wallace, known as The Dark Destroyer on ITV's The Chase, has declared that he would stop even his own mother from winning the show. Speaking ahead of the launch of the new international spin-off series The Chase Across the World, Wallace said he takes great pride in defeating contestants and remains dispassionate even when they cry.
"I'd stop my Mum winning. I love my Mum but I'd stop her. I take great pride in winning on the show," Wallace said. He recalled a memorable moment when he caught contestants with a second left while they were playing for £100,000. "To see their faces was fantastic. I'm not the welfare! Even when they're crying, I don't care. I'm dispassionate. I'm a professional, full stop. I'm there to win."
Fellow Chaser Anne Hegerty Agrees with Ruthless Approach
Anne Hegerty, who plays The Governess, supports Wallace's ruthless attitude but admits she sometimes feels guilty. "It says in our contract, 'I am there to do my best at all times'," she explained. "There have been times when I've thought to myself, 'I'm going to do my best, because I always do, but there's a part of me that's hoping my best won't be good enough.'"
Wallace, 66, is a practising barrister and says his legal training helps him stay calm under pressure. "I can think on my feet and I'm fearless. I've appeared in the Court of Appeal, I've done Old Bailey trials. So answering a question in the final Chase is not going to faze me."
Wallace's Achilles Heel: The Simpsons
Despite his vast knowledge, Wallace struggles with questions about the animated series The Simpsons. "Every Achilles has a heel. I've never watched The Simpsons. They asked me the colour of Marge's hair, I said orange. I didn't know. The messages I got on Twitter would make you want to quit the show," he said.
He recalled another question about who the oldest Simpsons child is, which took him six seconds to answer for £50,000. "Questions are only easy if you know the answer. We are brilliant quizzers, but we make mistakes."
No Plans to Retire from Day Job
Despite the success of The Chase, Wallace remains cautious and continues to work as a barrister. "From the day I did the first episode of The Chase, I have never taken it for granted. I don't care how successful the formula is, the most successful shows have been pulled. So let's see. The show may be successful, but if it goes tomorrow, I still have a day job."
Wallace is the only Chaser who meets contestants after the show, win or lose. He and Hegerty get along so well that people sometimes mistake them for a couple. "Anne and I have done a few shows together, we've been in America and Jamaica. People might think we're a loved-up couple. We love and respect each other, so we get on really well and I think that comes across," he said.
The Chase Across the World
The new series, The Chase Across the World, filmed in multiple countries including Rome, Lisbon, and Zurich. Wallace said British fans often recognised them. "I was with Paul in Lisbon and we had a really good time. There was a stag party. When they recognised us, they went nuts. We said, 'Don't post the photos until the show airs.'"
The Chase Across the World starts on July 16 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
