Mark Labbett, better known as ‘The Beast’ on ITV’s popular quiz show The Chase, has revealed that EastEnders icon Shaun Williamson was once considered to join the ranks as a Chaser. Williamson, famous for his role as Barry Evans on the long-running soap, impressed the show’s producers and existing Chasers with his quizzing prowess during a special celebrity episode.
Williamson’s appearance on The Celebrity Chase left a lasting impression, with Labbett sharing that both the show’s bosses and the Chasers were taken aback by his quizzing talents. The celebrity version of the show is a different game show, they come on for charity and to entertain people. Unashamedly, we tailor the questions to give them a chance. There are one or two exceptions, like Shaun Williamson, who seriously got tried out to be a Chaser and he is not far away,” Mark said.
Despite his strong performance, Williamson ultimately decided that while he was a good quizzer, he wasn’t quite at the level required to be a full-time Chaser. “He was smart enough to know, ‘Look, I’m good but I’m not at their level’. But he’s a very, very good quizzer,” Labbett added, praising the actor’s humility and self-awareness.
Williamson isn’t the only celebrity to have impressed on The Celebrity Chase. Labbett also mentioned cricket star Phil Tufnell and designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as notable contestants. Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen is a very good all-round quizzer but isn’t as strong with sports. I think he was paired with Phil Tufnell who, obviously, is a sport specialist, and it was a lethal pairing. But to be a Chaser, you need to have that all-round knowledge with no weak spots,” he explained.
When asked who he believes is the best among the Chasers, Labbett confidently declared, “I’m arrogant enough to say I’m the best Chaser in the world. One or two of my colleagues look funny at me, and I sort of go, ‘Prove me wrong’. Our job is that you have to be tested all the time, I say the price of being the best is you have got to prove it.”
Mark Labbett’s insights not only highlight the rigorous standards required to be a Chaser but also offer a glimpse into the potential that celebrities like Shaun Williamson possess in the world of competitive quizzing.
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