Shaun Wallace has a secret.
The Chaser’s original quiz master – whose nickname is “The Destroyer” – cuts an imposing figure. But off-screen, he’s the friendliest Brit you’ll ever meet.
“When I’m quizzing, I’m there to win,” Wallace says. “I’m not there to smile or play with the contestants. I’m trying to answer every question correctly.”
The English barrister is the latest quiz guru to join the shining jewel in Channel Seven’s game show stable. In late 2017, the 57-year-old flew to Australia as part of the network’s plan to maintain (and even increase) its lead over Nine’s Millionaire Hot Seat in the critical 5 pm timeslot.
The whirlwind schedule saw Wallace film two days’ worth of shows every day he was here. Jetlag aside, the quiz master didn’t mind; working in front of the camera can be even more lucrative than the law. And besides, on home soil, he’s been known to film up to three shows a day.
“It’s not a problem for me,” he tells Fairfax Media in a break during shooting. “We, as chasers, like to play. I think I still hold the record for being the only chaser to do three shows in one day and win all three. It is hard to keep your energy levels up, though, so hats off to the hosts.”
In a way, Shaun Wallace is the perfect man for television. He’s a regular on the public speaking circuit and once ran for the British parliament as an independent candidate. But he says his 33 years of experience as a criminal barrister is what really honed his on-screen presence.
“It’s part of our [legal] training,” he says. “We’re taught to be calm and not to feel the pressure. As far as I’m concerned, if I can appear in the highest appellate court in my own country then I can appear anywhere. And the worst thing you can do in a quiz show is getting the answer wrong.”
Wallace – who had never stepped foot in Australia until inking his contract with Seven – made sure to brush up on his Australian history and slang before stepping onto the plane for the dizzying 24-hour flight. But he admits there isn’t really any difference between Australian quiz show contestants and their British counterparts. For him, the only difference is between contestants and his fellow professional quizzers.
“The one piece of advice I always give contestants is don’t be phased by the circumstances – the lights and artificial studios and things like that. And if you get a question wrong, move on. You always find those contestants who concentrate on the question as opposed to the circumstances have a tendency to do very well.”
The question remains, though: How is The Chase such a popular show when its format is so simple? On most weekdays, the Australian version will be watched by close to half a million people. And yet – apart from the concocted drama of the chaser catching up with the contestant on the playing board – the setup isn’t that much different from your average pub trivia night.
“What makes the show such a success has got to be the dynamic between the host and the contestant,” says Shaun Wallace, downplaying his legendary scowl. “If you’ve got the extra element of a super nerd, then it makes for a very exciting show.”
Speaking of pub trivia, Shaun Wallace admits that during the early days of the show he would sneak out to his local to test his skills with a few mates over a beer or two. But those days are now well and truly behind him.
“I don’t do it anymore because I’m so well known in Britain. [People say], ‘You’re not playing!’ or ‘Can we have you on our team?’ So I try not to get involved in pub quizzes because it’s an unfair advantage if you’re a professional quizzer. And once you get seconded by one team, they’re not going to let you go.”
Host Andrew O’Keefe says Wallace has an “aura of formidability” about him. “When he walks on stage, just to see the reactions of the contestants tells the whole story. They are in awe of him and they fear him in equal measure, and rightly so. He’s one of the world’s best and the original chaser.”
But as soon as a scene wraps, Wallace’s tough persona melts away, says the host. When an unlucky contestant gets eliminated, he’s even been known to walk off his part of the stage and give them a giant bear hug.
“There are very few chasers whose stage persona is so at odds with their actual personality,” O’Keefe says. “He’s the most charming, warm, and generous bloke you will ever meet. Occasionally on the air you’ll see the smile crack through the grim visage and it’s like sunshine pouring out of his head.”
Shaun Wallace‘s episodes of The Chase Australia air on Seven from Monday, January 29 at 5 pm.