The Chase newcomer Darragh Ennis has revealed he turned down the original nickname suggested by producers when it was first announced that he was joining the show.
Darragh – who previously competed on the ITV quiz show in 2017 – made his debut as a Chaser during Thursday night’s show.
Following in the footsteps of The Governess, The Beast and The Vixen, Darragh’s nickname within the show was revealed to be The Menace (a pun on his initials, D. Ennis).
However, during Monday’s instalment of This Morning, it was revealed this had to be changed from The Professor, after he took issue with the proposed nickname.
Explaining his decision to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, Darragh said: “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. I was on stage, waiting to go on when I first heard.”
Last week, Darragh said of his “Menace” moniker: “I like it, it’s good. I can’t wait for the merchandise. My friend has already said he wants me in Toby Jug form.”
Darragh is the first Chaser to be welcomed to the show since 2015, and the sixth overall.
The Chase launched in 2009 with just Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace before Anne Hegerty joined the group a year later, with Paul Sinha added in 2011.
Jenny Ryan then became the show’s fifth resident Chaser in 2015.
This Morning airs every weekday from 10am on ITV, while The Chase is on at 5pm.