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The Chase’s Shaun Wallace breaks silence on claims of ‘sacking’ by ITV bosses

The Chase star Shaun Wallace has broken his silence on rumours ITV has let him go.

Shaun, who takes on the role of the Dark Destroyer on the ITV quiz show, has been a staple of the programme since it first aired back in 2009. Since then, he has shaped the quiz show, becoming a favourite among viewers for his no-nonsense knowledge, with a smidge of charisma.

But for some time, Shaun has been away from the show – leading some fans to believe that ITV has given him the sack. Now, addressing the situation, Shaun, 64, has set the record straight and calmed fans’ worries.

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Speaking on an episode of The Hearing – A Legal Podcast, Shaun revealed that he is often gone from the series due to issues away from the show itself. He clarified that because he continues to work as a lawyer, there are many times where he is unable to film, leading to his co-Chasers having to fill in for him.

Shaun admitted the real reason why he was absent from the show for so long

Explaining his precarious situation, Shaun said: “If I’ve got a long trial, then that will take precedence over my filming, and the Chase know that. But I’ve then got to make up my other episodes later on in the series.

“So when people see me… not seen me on TV for a long time… ‘Has he been sacked?’ No, just back to my legal career,” he assured the public.

Shaun first shot to fame in 2004 when he won the long-running BBC quiz show Mastermind. Since then, the star has been prominent on TV, highlighting the quizzing community – all while carrying on with his legal career, which he has done for three decades.

Wallace has been working as a lawyer for over thirty years, balancing his TV fame with his legal career
(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

In an interview with New Zealand’s edition of Woman’s Weekly last month, Shaun said he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to flex his knowledge. But he was quick to recognise that the fame could go away at any moment, saying it “could all end tomorrow”.

His fame has allowed him to take on a lot of new opportunities, but inside the courtroom he said that people only care about his ability to argue claimant’s cases. He admitted he tries to maintain both careers at the same time, joking that he is “married” to his jobs.

He was one of the first Chasers to appear on the show in 2009
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Back in 2022, his marriage to his work life stepped up a gear as he headed out onto the streets as part of the lawyers’ strike. Joining with his fellow legal professionals, he called on the government for better pay and working conditions.

It comes as The Chase celebrates its fifteenth year on telly this year. The show first hit our screens on June 29, 2009 – and has since gone on to become a staple of both daytime and primetime television, with celebrities and civilians alike taking on the biggest brains in the country, all with Bradley Walsh at the helm.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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