This Morning fans were left stunned on Tuesday morning as The Chase’s Shaun Wallace appeared alongside Anne Hegerty to chat about their DNA Journey programme on ITV.
The Chasers are one of seven celebrity duos appearing in the programme to discover their ancestral history and unearth secrets from their past in a series of documentaries this spring.
The Dark Destroyer and The Governess, who ITV viewers will recognise from the popular game show, looked worlds away from their regular stoney-faced personas when going head-to-head with Bradley Walsh and a team of four strangers.
This Morning viewers were particularly taken aback by Shaun’s appearance on the sofa without his dark-rimmed glasses and wearing a casual arms-baring sports t-shirt and trousers, when he normally dons a sharp suit.
Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “Shaun looked a bit hench in that T-shirt,” as another posted: “Sean looks well buff to be fair.”
A third posted: “Daaaaaamn, Shaun's been down the gym,” as another cheekily suggested: “Shaun looking for a Men's Health cover shoot perhaps?”
Another social media user wrote “Shaun Wallace has invited everyone to the gun show,” as another posted: “Yes, work your stuff, Shaun!”
The barrister shared details of the programme earlier this year, when he confirmed he will appear alongside The Governess in the show.
As Anne and Shaun go on an unforgettable road trip in the ITV programme, the new series of DNA Journey will also feature globetrotting stories from Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Maureen Lipman and Rula Lenska.
ITV bosses said of the programme: “Delving into their family histories, the celebrated TV duos will be using cutting edge DNA technology and genealogy to uncover the truth behind their bloodlines, as well as coming face to face with living relatives they never before knew existed.
“The first episode Anne Hegerty and Shaun Wallace face a different kind of challenge than they’re used to – searching out knowledge rather than imparting it. They’re embarking on a road trip that spans the UK to Jamaica to uncover their family histories using DNA and genealogy.
“A formidable opponent on The Chase, it seems Anne comes from a long line of impressive ancestors – one who survived two torpedo attacks and escaped the sinking of a ship by clinging to an upturned lifeboat.
“What Shaun has no idea about though is that there is more to Anne than meets the eye when he finds out he might need to start curtsying to her.
“His own journey is no less impressive as – against all expectations - he manages to trace his family back eight generations to the early 1700s and finds an ancestor who amassed a small fortune in Cuba. Initially, he also comes face to face with an uncomfortable past that turns out to be not quite as it first appears.”
In the second part of the series, airing later this year, the programme will follow the ancestral journeys of Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb, Joel Dommett and Tom Allen, plus Alison Hammond and Kate Garraway.
