The Chase’s ‘Dark Destroyer’ breaks silence after fans fear he was sacked by ITV

Fans of The Chase were beginning to wonder whether one of the show’s best-known Chasers had quietly left the programme. Shaun Wallace, better known as the ‘Dark Destroyer’, had been missing from the ITV quiz show for an extended period, prompting speculation that he had been dropped.

Wallace has now explained exactly why viewers have not seen him on screen as often, and the reason has nothing to do with his future on the show.

Shaun Wallace explains his absence from The Chase

Wallace has been part of The Chase since it first arrived on television in 2009, becoming one of the programme’s most recognisable Chasers.

So when his appearances became less frequent, some viewers began to wonder whether ITV bosses had decided to part ways with him.

The 64-year-old addressed those rumours during an appearance on The Hearing – A Legal Podcast, explaining that his television commitments sometimes have to fit around his work as a lawyer.

His legal career can require him to spend long periods in court, meaning he is occasionally unable to take part in filming.

Wallace explained that when he has a lengthy trial, his legal work takes priority. The Chase production team is aware of this arrangement, and he subsequently makes up the episodes he misses later in the series.

That, he said, is why viewers can sometimes go a long time without seeing him.

Rather than having been dismissed from the programme, Wallace said he has simply been returning to his legal career when he is absent from television.

His explanation was a direct reassurance to fans who had started asking whether the popular Chaser had been sacked.

A quiz champion with a career in law

Wallace first became widely known to television quiz fans when he won the long-running BBC programme Mastermind in 2004.

His success on television, however, has always existed alongside his legal career. He has continued working as a lawyer while appearing on The Chase, maintaining two very different professional lives.

In an interview with Woman’s Weekly New Zealand last month, Wallace acknowledged that television fame is not something he takes for granted, saying he knows it “could all end tomorrow.”

He also joked about the demands of balancing both careers, suggesting that he is practically “married” to his work.

The contrast between his two professions is considerable. In court, Wallace has said, the focus is on his ability to argue claimant’s cases. On The Chase, meanwhile, he is known for testing contestants on their general knowledge while regularly becoming part of the show’s comedy as well.

Bradley Walsh has had plenty of fun with the Dark Destroyer

Although Wallace is known for his formidable quizzing ability, his appearances have also produced plenty of memorable moments with host Bradley Walsh.

One particularly amusing exchange came in November last year, when contestant Ryan was faced with an unusual question about the wedding of Charles and Diana.

The question asked which animal was reportedly used to lay cables around Buckingham Palace for the broadcast of the wedding.

The three possible answers were a mole, a ferret or a badger.

Ryan immediately found the question amusing and joked about the idea of a mole being sent underground to carry cables.

That was enough to send Walsh into a tangent of his own, imagining the animal workers turning up with their equipment and asking where they should put the cables.

Ryan eventually chose ferret, which was the correct answer.

Viewers might have expected Wallace, with his reputation as one of the show’s formidable quiz experts, to know the answer too.

Instead, the Dark Destroyer went for mole.

Walsh could barely contain his laughter after Wallace gave the wrong answer, turning the moment into another memorable exchange between the Chase host and one of his longest-serving Chasers.

For fans who have been wondering why Wallace has disappeared from the programme for stretches at a time, however, his explanation is considerably less dramatic.

His absence is simply a consequence of juggling his television career with his work in law, meaning viewers can still expect to see the Dark Destroyer return when his professional commitments allow.