ITV Beat the Chasers' Maverick identity 'exposed' by eagle-eyed viewers

The Chase fans believe they've cracked the case of the new Chaser's identity, known as Maverick, and it appears he's a familiar face in the celebrity world. The ITV spin-off, Beat The Chasers, is gearing up to introduce a new quiz master during the finale of the current series on Sunday 19 October. Hosted by beloved TV presenter Bradley Walsh, the show pits contestants against all six legendary Chasers in a race against time for cash prizes.

The team of quiz experts includes Anne Hegerty, (The Governess), Mark Labbett (The Beast), Paul Sinha, (The Sinnerman), Jenny Ryan, (The Vixen), Shaun Wallace (The Dark Destroyer) and Darragh Ennis (The Menace). In the initial round, participants must navigate a nerve-wracking multiple-choice Cash Builder to secure their place against the quiz champions. A flawless performance earns them a "super offer" - the opportunity to challenge all six Chasers for a whopping £600,000. However, the upcoming episode will see Darragh missing from the line-up, replaced by a brand-new member.

The identity of the newcomer, currently only known as Maverick, remains a mystery. But this week, a teaser was released online, sparking a flurry of excitement among viewers.

The clip showed a figure dressed in a black suit adorned with question marks, their face concealed by a red and black mask and bowler hat.

The caption read: "There's A New Face In Town... The Maverick Has Joined The Chasers! But Who Could It Be? Find Out Sunday At 8pm On ITV!".

Theories have been rife about who Maverick could be, with fans rushing to Reddit to question whether it could be a well-known quizzer. One thought it could be Eggshead star Kevin Ashman, as they said: "The more I look at the eyes the more I'm thinking Kevin Ashman."

Another agreed: "I am so hoping for it to be Kevin."

But a third insisted: "It's James Harkin, QI elf and presenter of No Such Thing As A Fish," as one replied: "He's a well-known quizzer and from Bolton (same as Ann and Jenny)."

If it were to be Ashman, it would be bad news for Beat the Chasers player, as he is considered one of the greatest quizzers in the world. He has appeared on BBC show Eggheads since 2003, and is the only panellist to appear on every series of the show.

Meanwhile, Harkin began his career at QI, winning the attention of bosses after he submitted research for the fact-finding of the show. He was hired as a researcher and as an accountant for the program, but by 2017 he was made the head researcher for the show.

Beat the Chasers continues Sunday October 19th on ITV1.