I’m the world’s first Chaser but I’m not bigger than the show – I could go tomorrow, says Shaun Wallace

HE holds the distinction of being the world's first Chaser and has dominated televised quizzing for 15 years.

But Shaun 'The Dark Destroyer' Wallace, 64, doesn't take his place on ITV's premier game show for granted.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun on behalf of The Department for Education's , he accepts he could be replaced in a heartbeat.

He says: "There never has been a timeline because you know why? You could be the most successful show in the world. Guess what? It can go tomorrow.

"I'm only as good as my last closing speech as a lawyer. I'm only as good as a Chaser in relation to the last question I answered correctly. I never take anything for granted.

"I'm the world's first chaser so I'm comfortable.

"And you know what, I don't look nervously over my shoulder in relation to how the producers think because if they don't think I'm good enough, then guess what? I'm not bigger than the show. End of story."

For 40 years Shaun has been plying his trade as a barrister following an early career as a teacher.

He manages his legal work alongside his role as a Chaser, which he classes as a "hobby" rather than a job.

"It's not a chore. It's not boring. It's not hard work," he says. "It's something I've always wanted to do. Being a TV professional, a quizzer, is a privilege, a lucky privilege.

"It's a hobby, which I've turned into a profession. I'm very fortunate."

Though he's best known for his TV work, he's keen not to be defined by it.

Fame, fortune and adoration aren't important to Shaun, who shot to prominence in 2004 as the first black contestant to win Mastermind.

He dubs himself a "goal model", a man keen to leave a positive legacy behind and use his platform to help others be the best versions of themselves.

"I want to leave the legacy, when I shuffle off this mortal coil, of being a person who had an altruistic attitude of wanting to help others through the power and medium and platform of education," he says.

Decades on from his time as an educator, he continues to mentor kids in between assignments, delivering lectures and talks in schools, colleges and other establishments to help motivate young people to succeed.

One of his key messages is don't be afraid to fail.

He says: "I published an autobiography called Chasing a Dream. And one of the reasons I wrote that book is because I want people to realise that when people see you in the public eye, they think you're born rich, they think you're born famous, they think you're born clever.

"There's a backstory. Forty-three years ago, when my friends were going to university and my grades weren't good enough, I burst out into tears.

"I told everybody as an 11 year old kid, I'm going to be a lawyer, I'm going to be the greatest. If you're talk the talk in life, you've got to be able to walk the walk. So you know, guess what? The one thing about a failure, as I say to people, or when you have setbacks, it doesn't mean to say that your future's behind you.

"It doesn't mean to say that you are a failure. You've got to develop that own personality of perseverance and determination.

"No man is an island. I've had support from people to encourage me to sort of get up off my ass and move on. But ultimately, it's got to come from within. Because if it doesn't come from within, nobody's going to push you.

"So I suppose one of my sort of strengths is perseverance, determination, and the refusal to allow anybody to control my destiny. And the only way I can ensure that is to have an educated mind."

CAREER CHANGE

Shaun's pivot into television came in his 40s and makes him perfectly placed to encourage others to give something new a try in middle age.

New research has found one in four people aged 44-59 want to make a change to their career, with many eager to pursue a more fulfilling role.

The Chaser has now teamed up with the government to persuade people to try their hand at teaching.

He says: "I'm supporting the campaign because I think it's very, very important, especially if people do have experience and skills in industries across the board, ranging from heavy industries into technology, to actually use those skills in a transferable way.

"The one staple I'll give to them is this, that tomorrow doesn't belong to anybody. But you know, guess what, there's nothing wrong with having a dream in terms of having future goals and aspirations.

"And those dreams should be limitless. You shouldn't put a ceiling or a block on those dreams. And if you do have a visual presence, especially somebody like me, who's well known and in the public eye, and has that genuine altruistic attitude of wanting to help you when you need to succeed, then I think it's important that people like me and like-minded people like me in the industry, who are looking for that career pivot, who are looking for that career change, and who do want to actually put something back in terms of teaching the next generation, then they should be inspired by that."

To find out more about how you could share your existing industry skills by teaching in further education,