A former The Chase contestant has shared behind-the-scenes secrets about ITV host Bradley Walsh and what really happens during filming
Bradley Walsh hosts the ITV hit game show(Image: ITV)
A former contestant has shared insights into her time on ITV’s hit quiz show The Chase, revealing what presenter Bradley Walsh is truly like away from the spotlight.
Savannah submitted her application for the programme in 2021, though it wasn’t until two years later that producers finally reached out. In a TikTok clip that garnered thousands of views, she recounted how a casting assistant phoned her out of the blue while she was on her way to work.
Rather than scheduling a more convenient time, she sat a general knowledge quiz right there on the spot, standing on the pavement next to a busy road. Following an extensive audition process, Savannah impressed the production team and secured her place on the programme.
At the heart of proceedings is the show’s veteran host, Bradley Walsh. Savannah was quick to offer her thoughts on what the presenter is genuinely like off-camera, reports the Express.
She disclosed: “He’s been really lovely on all occasions. He is really professional and remember he works really long days, when he does things like The Chase, and it’s his job, but he is really professional. He is really good at reading from the autocue and things like that, he gets the work done, but he is really, really friendly.”
Savannah has opened up about her time on the ITV show(Image: ITV)
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The quiz show participant continued: “He gave me advice on where to go in Seville and where to go after the episode finished filming. He’s a great guy.”
Upon meeting her fellow competitors in the ‘green room’, they chose to establish a tactical alliance before recording even commenced. Savannah disclosed that the team agreed from the beginning that their sole objective was victory, avoiding unnecessary gambles, and concentrating on securing a portion of the prize money.
She said, “One of the biggest things that seems to make a difference in whether you win the final chase or not is how many people you have in your team.
“So it’s really important for even weaker players to get back. It’s really important to get everyone back, which is why you see me going to everyone ‘go low'”.
The TikToker acknowledged feeling under strain, saying: “When I was up, everyone had gotten home, so I was really feeling the pressure. For extra context, I really needed this money at the time, which is also why I was playing it so safe and telling people to get back.”
Mark Labbett (“The Beast”), Shaun Wallace (“The Dark Destroyer”), Anne Hegerty (“The Governess”), Paul Sinha (“The Sinnerman”), Jenny Ryan (“The Vixen”), and Darragh Ennis (“The Menace”).(Image: ITV)
She elaborated: “I really needed some money, even if it wasn’t a huge amount because I had a big vet bill. I went for £5k, which is what I got in the cash builder. Brad pointed out at the end, ‘You could have had two goes at getting £72k and bringing it back’, but I could have got caught on those, so I went for the middle offer and in total we brought back £13k.”
Sharing an insider detail, Savannah explained: “If you notice when we prepare to start the head-to-head, and I think he (Bradley) says something like ‘the chase is on’ or something, if you see people looking down instead of looking up.
“What we are looking down at is basically there is a flap that automatically comes open with the buttons that you can press to answer the question A, B or C. It’s an automatic flap, and then it automatically closes at the end of the head-to-head.”
She continued: “That’s why so many people will be looking down as the head-to-head begins because we are looking at that to see where the buttons are because you don’t want to accidentally press the wrong one.”
You can catch up on The Chase on ITVX.