EXCLUSIVE: Beat the Chasers is introducing a brand new Chaser for Sunday’s big finale, with the masked quizzer Maverick joining the panel and replacing Darragh Ennis

View 2 Images

Maverick is joining Beat the Chasers this Sunday(Image: ITV)

The Chase fans were taken by surprise when the ITV show announced that new Chaser, Maverick, would be joining Beat the Chasers for its highly-anticipated finale of Sunday. Meanwhile, established star Darragh Ennis won’t be appearing the episode, being replaced by Maverick instead.

ITV teased the Maverick’s arrival earlier this week, sharing a clip of mysterious quiz whiz joining the show. “My name is Maverick,” he tells Bradley, adding that his name comes from being “a lone wolf”. He adds: “My name comes from my nan and grandad. Mave and Rick.”

Reacting to Maverick’s introduction, Paul ‘Sinnerman’ Sinha said: “I want my mum!” While Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace read a poem to mark his debut.

View 2 Images

Darragh Ennis will be back on The Chase and Beat the Chasers after this special(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

“We know who it is but we won’t name him because if we do badly, we can blame him,” he read. “But I’ll give you two clues and a couple of steers. It’s not Simon Le Bon or Britney Spears.”

For fans worried that this may be the end of Darragh Ennis’ time on Beat the Chasers, there’s nothing to fear. The Mirror can reveal that Maverick is on the Chasers panel as a one-off special episode.

As for Darragh, he will continue to be a part of Beat the Chasers and The Chase going forward. It’s not the first time that there’s been a guest Chaser on the show.

Back in 2022, star of the Australian spin-off Issa Schultz filled in for Ann Hegerty on Beat the Chasers. Known as the Supernerd, the quizzer took Anne’s place on the Chasers panel after she tested positive for COVID-19.

However, Maverick’s arrival on the show marks the second time that this has happened in Beat the Chasers history.

While Maverick’s identity is yet to be revealed, some fans are convinced that they know who he is. He’ll be joining Anne Hegerty, (The Governess), Mark Labbett (The Beast), Paul Sinha, (The Sinnerman), Jenny Ryan, (The Vixen) and Shaun Wallace (The Dark Destroyer) in Sunday’s finale.

Some fans think that Maverick could be comedian Jasper Carrott, with one writing: “Convinced it’s Jasper Carrott!”

Another contributed: “It’s Jasper Carrot.” A third weighed in: “I’ll be shocked if it’s not Jasper Carrott.”

Earlier this week, ITV shared a first-look at Maverick – revealing that his black suit covered in question marks and his red and black mask in a clip. “There’s A New Face In Town…” read the post.

“The Maverick Has Joined The Chasers! But Who Could It Be? Find Out Sunday At 8pm On ITV!”