Rejected nicknames for Chasers on ITV The Chase – including one that was too ‘racy’

The clever clogs from The Chase have turned into telly legends, with their brainpower and quirky nicknames making the Chasers celeb figures.

But many fans won’t realise that there were a number of rejected nicknames tried and tested before the crew settled on the final personas. And, surprisingly, host Bradley Walsh is “responsible” for “almost all” of the nicknames.

For instance, the towering Mark Labbett has been dubbed “The Beast” long before the show cheers to his mighty 6ft 6in height and because it’s what his surname means in French. But that wasn’t set in stone right away.

Another Chaser, Jenny Ryan, known to viewers as The Vixen, was initially labeled something a tad bit spicier, reports the Mirror.

Chatting to The Daily Mail, the 42 year old brainbox said: “I was originally called ‘The Cougar’ which – on several grounds – I objected to.

“Brad came up with ‘The Vixen’ because in every audition I wore my hair with a ponytail at the side and he thought it looked like a fox’s brush. That worked for me.”

Meanwhile, Anne Hegarty, another quizzing whiz, wasn’t pleased with her first tag when she hopped on board back in 2010. At 66, Hegarty revealed they wanted to call her ‘The Headmistress’ initially.

But she set the record straight by saying: “During rehearsals Brad started referring to me as ‘The Governess’. I told the producers straight away I’d rather be called that. I thought it was more kinky.”

Shaun Wallace, a pro barrister and one of the original brainiacs on The Chase, almost had a different screen name. Initially dubbed “The Legal Eagle” by host Bradley Walsh during early tests, Shaun was later given the “Dark Destroyer” nickname.

The 62 year old legal eagle had his doubts about the moniker at first, especially since it was shared with former boxing champ Nigel Benn. Despite some flak over the name, Shaun stands by it, saying he’s “proud” to be “dark and Black”.

Meanwhile, fellow Chaser Mark Labbett has been busy with “ITV lawyers” regarding his own nickname. He spilled to the Daily Mail that he’s trademarked “The Beast” and isn’t keen on handing over the rights, claiming it’s a goldmine for him.

Rounding off the squad are Paul “The Sinnerman” Sinha and Dennis “The Menace” Ennis. With over 2,000 episodes under its belt, The Chase is still going strong after 15 years on air.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk