The Chase fans will have to thank its host Bradley Walsh for getting the iconic gameshow on the air, as the presenter has revealed his crafty course of action for convincing bosses it would be a success.
Bradley, who was unexpectedly replaced in a recent episode, admitted his subterfuge while chatting with Roman Kemp on Capital Radio.
While The Chase was still in development, Bradley revealed that he, The Beast, and The Dark Destroyer would do run-throughs in the office to test the format of the quiz.
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"I said, 'This is ludicrous. These questions are so easy,'" Bradley recalled, before telling Roman that ITV then offered him a wager.
Related: The Chase's Bradley Walsh gets replaced as host on episode
"They said, 'What, do you think you could beat the Chaser?' I said, 'If I beat the Chaser, we'll make a series, let's do that.' And they went, 'Yeah, alright, if you can beat the Chaser,' because they thought that the general public won't be able to beat these gurus, right?"
Fortunately for Bradley, and The Chase itself, the presenter had a genius trick for ensuring his victory against Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace.
He explained: "What they didn't realise was the sheets with the questions and the answers on were lying face down on my end of the desk. I could see the print through and I could read the answers backwards, [so] I read them.
Related: The Chase's Mark Labbett apologises to viewers after storming off the show following defeat
"So every time they come in on the head-to-head as if they were at the table, I'd smash both of them. And as I walked away, I took the piece of paper and put it on the other table so no-one saw it. So, I'd actually cheated."
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp airs weekdays from 6am on FM, DAB digital radio, and Global Player.
The Chase airs on ITV.
