‘I competed on The Chase – one thing Bradley Walsh did will stick with me’

One contestant who competed on ITV game show The Chase has exposed what host Bradley Walsh is really like away from the cameras. The long-time quiz host, 65, has hosted The Chase since 2009 and its spin-off Beat the Chasers since its launch in 2020, meaning he’s a seasoned pro at asking quick-fire questions and bantering with players.

And now some previous contestants have shared their own experiences with Brad. Reddit user u/WhiteDiamondK shared on the platform: “Brad was nice, but aside from introducing himself, he never interacted with us in breaks when we stopped filming (different to hosts on other shows I’ve been on).

“Our Chaser was Shaun, who I was never a fan of but he came down to meet us after the filming and was lovely. He won me over.”

The user added: “We won and the prize money came from ITV’s Payroll at the end of the month after we filmed. Most quiz shows you don’t get the prize money until the show airs. We filmed at BBC Elstree, where they film EastEnders [after auditioning at ITV Towers in South Bank] and the cab that took us to the studio drove through the plaza that was dressed as the entrance to Holby City Hospital.

“To me it was 1980s Grange Hill! When we went to the toilet we also got to see into one of the studios where the internal EastEnders sets were assembled.”

User u/Benefit_Infinite chimed in: “I’ve been on it. Brad was lovely – must be hard to live up to people’s expectations too. He’s professional and acting up for the camera which is not a negative by any means. He knows he needs to add levity and entertain those at home.”

But one thing left the contestant “uncomfortable”, as they added: “I will also say the chairs the contestants sit on are the most uncomfortable seats ever! My back was killing for weeks after.”

User u/ladycrankyportcullis said: “I’ve been on it! Bradley was so so lovely and really put me at ease as they were setting up for my head to head (I think he could see I was visibly shaking).”