Bookies say Phillip Schofield could replace The Chase star Bradley Walsh if he leaves

Virgin Radio

4 Mar 2021, 16:58

Is Phillip Schofield one step closer to filling the brogues of Bradley Walsh on The Chase? If he leaves, it's thought the host may be replaced by Phil.

Bookies Paddy Power have named the This Morning presenter the 4/1 favourite to replace BW if he quits, followed by Dermot O'Leary (6/1) and Shane Ritchie (8/1).

A spokesman for Paddy Power said: "Bradley Walsh is such a major part of The Chase that it’s hard to imagine the show without him.

"I mean, who else is going to break down laughing at questions including names like Fanny Chmelar and Dick Tingler?

"With ITV bosses making moves to run a spin-off show without Brad, it seems that it’s not just the contestants who are now 'one step closer to home.'"

The new series for spin-off The Chase Extra is going ahead without Bradley Walsh who has been fronting the quiz show since 2009 but quizzer Anne Hegerty says no one is going anywhere.

She wrote on Twitter: "None of us is going anywhere. The Chase Extra is just a little show on the ITV website, not replacing anything."