Reason The Chase's Shaun Wallace ‘lost thousands’ of pounds recording hit ITV show
The Chase star Mark Labbett claims he and Shaun Wallace were paid £100 a show at first, meaning the pair were both left out-of-pocket while filming.
The Chase star Shaun Wallace “lost thousands” of pounds when the show first started out. Shaun was one of the first two Chasers to sign up to the show in 2009, alongside Mark Labbett.
The pair were both recruited by producers from the national quizzing circuit. At the time Shaun was working as a criminal defence barrister. The 64-year-old has juggled his TV work and his legal career ever since.
Mark has now revealed both of them were left out-of-pocket when the show began. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: “Shaun and I both lost money at first.
“We earned just £100 a show and had to take time away from our better-paid jobs to do it. Shaun lost thousands.”
While Mark says he has had a number of careers throughout his 59 years, a majority of his time before The Chase was spent teaching in secondary schools. Having graduated from Oxford University, he was working as a maths and PE supply teacher in 2007, reports the BBC.
Mark claims ITV bosses were also worried the show might be a success. He says they brought in underwriters to assess whether The Chase would be a financial hit.
However, Mark understands it took just two days for the insurers to decide the broadcaster was not going to lose out. It was the show’s trademark excitement and drama that won them over, with early episodes going right to the wire.
The Chase went on to become a fan-favourite bringing in around three to five million viewers each day, The Mirror reported earlier this year. It has seen the Chasers - now expanded to six - becoming household names.
Don't miss...
Strictly's Amy Dowden talks 'hurtful' trolls, cancer recovery and BBC comeback [LATEST]
BBC Breakfast host offers chicken microphone in awkward blunder [REPORT]
Hailey Bieber welcomes first child with Justin Bieber as they share name [INSIGHT]
Mark, who travelled a “300-mile round trip” for the original audition has gone to star in spin-off versions around the world, including Australian and American editions. While five of the stars also reunited for Beat the Chasers, a one-v-one spin-off.
Shaun meanwhile continues his legal career, meaning he regularly has to step away from the show during trials. This he says leads fans to think he has been “sacked” from The Chase.
On The Hearing - A Legal Podcast, he explained: “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... 'Has he been sacked?' No, just back to my legal career."
