Darragh ‘The Menace’ Ennis has issued a passionate defence of The Chase host Bradley Walsh and the ITV show’s writers over the jokes included in the show.
Ever since its inception in 2009, part of The Chase’s charm has been Walsh’s quick-witted back-and-forths with the show’s quizmasters.
Ennis is joined by Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett, Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha, Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace, Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan, and Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty in the cast of The Chase, and each one shares their own personal jokes with Walsh.
However, over the years, some irked ITV viewers have accused the show of “fat-shaming” the likes of Labbett and Hegerty due to Walsh’s put-downs while Wallace’s nickname has also sparked some claims of “racism”.
WATCH DARRAGH ENNIS’ FULL NTAS RED CARPET INTERVIEW WITH GB NEWS HERE
Labbett has previously addressed the jokes about his appearance following complaints on social media as he responded to one person who suggested he was being “fat-shamed”.
Seemingly unfazed by the jokes, Labbett defended the show on X in 2021 when he tweeted back to the fan’s complaint: “The joke writers have to mass produce 220 intros to each of us a year and certain themes develop…”
Fellow Chaser Wallace also hit back at controversy surrounding his nickname on the show, slapping down the suggestion he was being “defined” by the colour of his skin.
Again in 2021, Wallace took to X to rubbish the suggestion the moniker was in any way racist, hitting back at a fan’s complaint by saying: “But I’m not defined by the colour of my skin. I’m black who intellectually destroys contestants.”
When asked by GB News if he feared politically correct complaints could lead to Walsh and the Chasers’ banter being watered down, Ennis defiantly replied: “Oh, it won’t.
“The thing about it being a joke or being the butt of the joke is that if you’re in the joke and you’re participating actively, then it’s cool.
But I’m not defined by the colour of my skin. I’m black who intellectually destroys contestants
— Shaun Wallace – The Dark Destroyer – the Chase (@TheShaunWallace) March 8, 2021
“If someone’s doing it without your consent and they’re beating down on you, then it’s just bullying. And it’s never, ever gotten (to that on) the show.
“We all know Brad. We’ve all talked about what we’re okay with in jokes and what we’re not.
“Anne genuinely doesn’t care about the things he says about her, she thinks it’s funny.
“I think it’s funny when he makes fun of me and we’re in on the joke. So it’s not bullying, it’s fun and we’re all in it together.”
Ennis doubled down on his fondness for the ITV quiz show when asked by GB News how long he sees himself being a member of the quizzing line-up for.
“For as long as they make the show,” he insisted “I would like to do up until I basically until I retire.
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“I love working there, it’s a brilliant show to work on.”
Ennis and his fellow Chasers had reason to celebrate on Wednesday evening when The Chase bagged the Best Daytime Programme award.
However, it was a bittersweet occasion as spin-off quiz show Beat the Chasers missed out on the Best Quiz Game Show to the 1% Club.
Elsewhere on the red carpet, GB News exclusively spoke to Vera star Brenda Blethyn about the end of the ITV series, Strictly star Neil Jones about the new welfare measures on the BBC show, and The Repair Shop’s Dominic Chinea about his future on the programme.
