THE Chase’s Bradley Walsh has let slip that the popular quiz show is “about 100 shows behind schedule”.
Production on the The Chase stopped in February and never resumed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bradley, 59, admitted the team was “lucky” it had filmed the special series Beat the Chasers otherwise there would be no new episodes to air.
In Beat the Chasers, contestants can win big money if they put themselves up against Chasers.
Bradley told TV Mag: “We were so lucky because we filmed it back in January. Obviously if it had been a couple of weeks later it wouldn’t have been made.
“We stopped filming on The Chase in February, so I would say at the moment we’re about 100 shows behind schedule, which we’ll need to make up.”
The host revealed he is in the dark about when production will resume.
He said: “I’ve got absolutely no idea what is going to happen. We can’t say we’ll be back to work in a month, eight weeks. No one knows. All we can do is sit and pray.”
Bradley is in lockdown with his family and described living through the coronavirus pandemic as “traumatic”.
He said: “It’s a very peculiar and traumatic time. Me and my family are all fine, but I do feel sorry for the people who are living on their own, I can’t imagine what that must be like.
“My heart goes out to them.”
The dad-of-two thought Beat The Chasers would be the perfect distraction during lockdown.
The show airs on five consecutive nights, and uses the classic trick of signing off for the evening midway through a contestant’s blood pressure-raising game.
Bradley said: “It’s how Who Wants To Be A Millionaire was produced originally and that’s what made it a hit, In today’s climate, waiting a week for a show is a pain now that we can boxset everything.”
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Beat The Chasers works differently to the normal show where all five Chasers could take on one member of the public.
The contestant does get to choose how many of the quizmasters they go up against; the more Chasers, the greater the prize money, but the less time advantage they will get.
Bradley explained: “Beat The Chasers works in favour of the contestant, because the Chasers never quite know when to buzz in.
“They tread on each other’s toes, which is wonderful, and if one of them gets a question wrong you should see them puff out their cheeks! Seeing them all sitting together does look like the most bizarre panto I’ve ever been to…”
Beat the Chasers will premiere on April 27 on ITV at 9pm and will air five nights a week until May 1.
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