Tony Dunn, a contestant on ITV's The Chase in 2019, has revealed that viewers noticed his intense stare and unusually wide eyes while he was answering questions under the studio lights. The project manager, who applied because of his love of quizzes and watching the show with his wife, was stunned by the reaction, saying he had no idea how nervous he looked on camera.
Behind-the-scenes filming secrets
Speaking to Smooth Spins Casino, Tony said: "I knew I was nervous on the day, but no one mentioned how that might be coming across on camera. Almost a year passed between filming and the episode airing, and once it was on TV, people started commenting on how intense my stare was and how wide my eyes looked! I had to laugh about it."
Tony also shared a behind-the-scenes detail about the head-to-head round. He explained that contestants don't have a fixed amount of time to answer from the moment the question appears; instead, if neither player presses their button, the question remains, but once one presses, the other is on a countdown.
"As soon as one person presses their button, the other person is suddenly on a countdown," Tony said. "I hadn't realised that before playing because, as a viewer, it looks like you just have a set amount of time to answer from the moment the question appears. In reality, once the Chaser presses, you see a countdown on a screen facing you that goes five, four, three, two and one, and you have to press your button before it runs out. You can't see any of that happening when you're watching at home."
Intensity of the studio experience
Tony said the biggest shock was stepping onto the famous set, describing it as far more intense than watching from home. "It's just so much more intense than watching from home. It's a very strange experience," he said. "You're playing for money, which is exciting, but that wasn't really the main thing for me. It was more like stepping inside your television, walking onto a set that you've watched hundreds of times and suddenly finding yourself part of it."
He admitted it took a huge amount of concentration to remain calm under the studio lights, saying, "I was so nervous. It took a lot of mental effort just to stay calm and focus because I've never experienced anything quite like it. You're in this environment that is so intense, and the adrenaline really kicks in."
Host Bradley Walsh praised
Tony also praised host Bradley Walsh, describing him as a "complete pro" behind the scenes. He recalled a moment when Walsh reassured a visibly nervous female contestant after her Cash Builder, saying, "I can tell you're incredibly nervous, so just take a minute to breathe. It's easier up here." Tony added: "That was off camera, and he took the time to help her settle down. I thought he came across as a consummate professional."
The Chase airs weekdays on ITV1 at 5pm and episodes can be streamed on ITVX now.
