CHASED DOWN
I was on The Chase – I was shocked by a brutal comment from bosses and the whole thing felt like a military operation
Bradley Walsh even made his own requests to the contestants
A CONTESTANT on The Chase has admitted that being a part of the show was like a "military operation"; as he reveals the shocking behind the scenes secrets of the programme.
Tom Williamson impressed when he put in a stellar performance on the ITV quizzing show.
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It led to Chaser Shaun Wallace remarking that the computer programmer from Liverpool was one of the best contestants he had ever faced off against during filming.
But for Tom, his time on the quiz show was a far cry from anything he ever expected.
The player spoke to the Express about a number of bizarre encounters from his time filming including a very clear request from show host Bradley Walsh.
Tom told the publication that before the game got underway, they had a "little speech" from the TV presenter in which he demanded that he only be referred to as Brad as opposed to Bradley with him complaining that "Bradley is too formal" for the show.
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However, the "military process" began way before Tom even made it to the studio floor - leaving him "overwhelmed" and experiencing something like never before.
The big-money hopeful recalled: "When you get there, you learn that it’s pretty much a military operation.
"It’s just so overwhelming. I’d never experienced an atmosphere like it."
To Tom's surprise, his opening chat with Bradley required plenty of pre-show effort and he was forced to "script" his own conversation with the host despite the fact it aired for only 30 seconds on screen.
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Ahead of crafting his script, he had to take part in five one-hour phone conversations with show bosses who attempted to make him TV ready - resulting in them offering a series of huge blows in the process.
During one of the calls, Tom was asked about what he would do with the prize money but his response was brushed off by the producers.
Watch the moment The Chase's Mark Labbett furiously slams desk and shouts as team scoops humongous £80k prize
After admitting he would use it to see family in the States, The Chase bosses clapped back and said: "Everyone says that."
It forced Tom to come up with a more elaborate answer.
Elsewhere, he was encouraged to "show up" the Chasers on-screen whenever he could.
He said he was told by bosses: "If you get a question and you’ve got some knowledge on it, if you give the question knowledge then you’re showing the Chaser up."
The Chase's best moments
The Chase has been entertaining ITV viewers for years, here are some of the show's most memorable moments...
Bradley Walsh can't stop laughing
- Every time host Bradley Walsh erupts into fits of laughter on The Chase it makes for pretty entertaining TV. One particularly memorable occasion was when he was asking the question 'The title of which Elvis Presley song was engraved of the inside of Freddie Star's coffin?" As usual the contestant was given four multiple choices but Bradley could get through reading them out before bursting into hysterics. Seeming the idea of the song being option 'B: Way Down' was too much for the presenter to handle.
The Double Trouble special
- To celebrate 15 years of The Chase on screens, ITV launched a special 'double trouble' episode where contestants faced off against not one but two of the show's beloved Chasers. And despite the odds, the contestants managed to go home with some cash!
The contestants with famous names
- Eagle-eyed ITV fans are always quick to spot interesting and sometimes hidden details on the quiz show - but there have been a few times where the names of some contestants have been overtly obvious. For example, one 2017 episode of the quiz show saw Bradley welcome four contestants who were named after Friends characters Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey. Another group of contestants with named from The Simpsons were also grouped together in another episode, much to viewers' amusement.
The Beast's anger gets the best of him
- During an episode from the 2024 season, Mark Labbett let out his inner beast as he exploded in a fit of anger. Close to losing the competition in the Final Chase, Mark then made a silly mistake and incorrectly answered the question, “Rabbit was a 1980 hit for which Cockney duo?” “Oh, you idiot!” he yelled at himself while slamming the table in front of him. With seconds left on the clock, the Chaser then admitted defeat, moaning "I don't deserve to win."
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