Darragh Ennis says co-star Mark Labbett would be upset if he replaced Jeremy Paxman
DARRAGH ENNIS has said he would love to step in Jeremy Paxman's shoes if the latter ever retired from University Challenge, but believes such a move could upset his The Chase co-star Mark Labbett.
The Chase contestant makes quip about Darragh Ennis
The Chase star Darragh Ennis, 40, revealed he would love to host University Challenge and Only Connect in the future if the opportunities were offered to him. But, the quizmaster admitted he would “shudder” at the backlash he would receive if he replaced Victoria Coren Mitchell, the host of the latter show.
He said: “I’d like to do University Challenge if [Jeremy] Paxman ever retires, but I think the Beast might get a bit upset because he’s definitely a much better fit for it than I am.
“There’d be no hanging around from contestants if he was presenting,” he added to the Metro of Mark’s approach.
As part of his future desires, The Chase star went on to say he’d also like to host shows based around teaching biology.
Aside from trying to catch out contestants on the quiz show, he is also a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford University.
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Darragh joined The Chase as a sixth chaser last year after impressing producers as a contestant in March 2017.
The Irish star successfully earned £9,000 for his team as they played against Paul Sinha, aka The Sinnerman.
Paul referred to Darragh as “the best player” he’s faced on the show as he welcomed him to the team last year.
The quizzer’s nickname on the show is The Menace.
He previously revealed that producers originally wanted to call him The Professor, but believed people would be annoyed by the title.
Darragh said on This Morning: “They did say that to me, but I work in the university here in Oxford and professor is a title that you really have to earn.
“I think people would be very annoyed if I started calling myself the Professor.
“So I said I didn’t want that, but they didn’t tell me what my name would be until I was on set.
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“I was on stage, waiting to go on when I first heard.”
On his new name, he added: “I like it, it’s good. I can’t wait for the merchandise.”
Darragh is also a part of spin-off show Beat The Chasers.
The quizmaster joins Mark, Anne Hegerty, Jenny Ryan and Shaun Wallace in the hope of catching out brave contestants.
Paul pulled out of the series due to being unwell at the time.
Speaking to Express.co.uk this week, the Governess star confirmed he will be back in the future.
She spilled: “He wasn’t very well, he is a lot better now and he is looking forward to getting back to work.
“He was happy to get back to work as soon as possible, but the specialist was saying, ‘No you do need a few weeks off’.”
Beat The Chasers returns to ITV from May 3 to May 7. The Chase airs on weekdays at 5pm on ITV.