The Chase star Anne Hegerty has said the introduction of a sixth Chaser is “tricky” for the other stars of the show, as it means they will likely suffer a pay cut.
Anne, 62, revealed the Chasers are paid per episode, meaning new Chaser Darragh Ennis’ initiation to the series comes with financial consequences for his new co-stars.
Alongside the arrival of a new Chaser, Anne admitted they are each recording fewer episodes than usual, due to filming restraints of the pandemic, and Bradley Walsh’s work commitments outside the show.
Making an appearance on The Lewis Nicholls Show on YouTube, The Governess was quizzed about whether she was happy to welcome a new Chaser to the show.
She said: “This is a tricky one, because a lot of the public imagine that we are on the same sort of deal that Hollywood stars are in the 1930s.
Anne “The Governess” Hegerty revealed the Chasers are paid per episode (Image: ITV)
“They got paid a salary per month, per year, and they were salaried employees at the studio and the studio would find them things to do for that salary. That isn’t actually how that works.
“We, The Chasers and Bradley, we get paid a flat fee for every fee that we do.
“So, any show that I’m doing, is a show for which I’m being paid and the other Chasers aren’t. And that applies to all of us.
“If you’re going to divide the shows by six rather than five, then, you know, do the maths.”
The Chase’s Darragh Ennis was a former contestant on the series, before being invited back as a professional (Image: ITV)
Darragh was previously a contestant on the show in 2017, impressing ITV bosses when he successfully trumped Paul Sinha with his general knowledge.
A research scientist at Oxford University by day, the Irishman made his debut on the show last week, winning against his first batch of contestants.
Speaking on the YouTube series, Anne admitted the restrictions of the pandemic have also meant the stars of the show are filming fewer episodes – resulting in a smaller paycheque.
Anne is hopeful next year will see the Chasers film a lot more episodes of the ITV quiz show (Image: ITV)
On top of that, presenter Bradley is in high-demand in the showbiz industry, presenting shows like Breaking Dad and Cash Trapped on the side.
His popularity on the screen means filming isn’t always possible, as Anne explained: “The problem is Bradley is, because he’s so in demand and so good, so superb at everything he does and can do so many different things, and so of course he’s massively in demand.
“And there’s about ten other things he’s doing besides the daytime Chase. A lot of the time we’ll find, ‘you know that filming block that was booked in, we are not filming that week after all’.”
Anne finished: “This year we were hoping to make up for it and do 150, 160, and then well that didn’t happen.
“So we hoped we will catch up in the spring but then again it all depends on whether Bradley’s available, it depends on a lot of whether one of these vaccines work out.”
The Chase airs on weekdays at 5pm on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
