This Morning’s Phillip Schofield ‘tipped to replace Bradley Walsh on The Chase’

Phillip Schofield has been tipped to replace Bradley Walsh on The Chase, amid rumours the longstanding quiz show host is stepping down.   

Bradley, 60, has hosted the ITV teatime show since it began in 2009 – but rumours began to swirl that he is leaving following the announcement of a new spin-off show. 

The Chase EXTRA launches next week, and will not be hosted by Bradley – although he has not stated what this means for his future on the main show.  

What? Phillip Schofield, 58, has been tipped to replace Bradley Walsh, 60, on The Chase, amid rumours the longstanding quiz show host is stepping down

Since the ITV spin-off show was announced, Paddy Power predicted that 2021 could be Bradley’s last year hosting The Chase, with the bookmakers the odds on him leaving to 10/11.

And, at 4/1, This Morning host Phillip is odds-on favourite to replace Bradley, if he were to quit, while Dermot O’Leary is second favourite at 6/1, followed by Shane Ritchie at 8/1.   

On Monday, the channel announced the addition of the six-part series to the ITV hub, which will see each Chaser appear on their own episode, with quiz tips and 10 questions for contestants to tackle. 

Starting on 8th March, a new instalment of The Chase EXTRA will be released every Monday at 6pm.

Stalwart: Bradley, 60, has hosted the ITV teatime show since it began in 2009 - but rumours began to swirl that he is leaving following the announcement of a new spin-off show

Stalwart: Bradley, 60, has hosted the ITV teatime show since it began in 2009 – but rumours began to swirl that he is leaving following the announcement of a new spin-off show

A Paddy Power spokesperson told The Sun: ‘Bradley Walsh is such a major part of The Chase that it’s hard to imagine the show without him.

‘I mean, who else is going to break down laughing at questions including names like Fanny Chmelar and Dick Tingeler?

‘With ITV bosses making moves to run a spin-off show without Brad, it seems that it’s not just the contestants who are now “one step closer to home”.’  

Paddy Power now also offers odds on one of the Chasers leaving, with Anne Hegerty tipped as the most likely at 5/6 and Shaun Wallace least likely to leave at 16/1. 

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

What about Bradley? The betting odds came to light after ITV revealed it was launching The Chase EXTRA without Bradley as host (Pictured L-R Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Shaun Wallace, Mark Labbett)

What about Bradley? The betting odds came to light after ITV revealed it was launching The Chase EXTRA without Bradley as host (Pictured L-R Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Shaun Wallace, Mark Labbett)

What? Since the ITV spin-off show was announced, Paddy Power has predicted that 2021 could be Bradley's last year hosting The Chase, with the bookmakers the odds on him leaving to 10/11

What? Since the ITV spin-off show was announced, Paddy Power has predicted that 2021 could be Bradley’s last year hosting The Chase, with the bookmakers the odds on him leaving to 10/11

The news comes as ITV reportedly came under fire for having no women hosts fronting game shows or quizzes.  

The men fronting such genres for the channel, includes The Chase’s Bradley Walsh, Tipping Point’s Ben Shephard, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’s Jeremy Clarkson, Lingo’s Adil Ray, Catchphrase’s Stephen Mulhern and Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown.

In January, Michael Kelpie, managing director of TV production company Potato which makes The Chase, was asked about the lack of women hosting game shows on British television. 

Replacement? And, at 4/1, This Morning host Phillip is odds-on favourite to replace Bradley, if he were to quit

Replacement? And, at 4/1, This Morning host Phillip is odds-on favourite to replace Bradley, if he were to quit

Back-ups? Former X Factor host Dermot O'Leary is second favourite at 6/1

Could it be you? EastEnders actor Shane Ritchie (right) comes in third at 8/1

Back-ups? Former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary (left) is second favourite at 6/1, followed by EastEnders actor Shane Ritchie (right) at 8/1

Loose Women presenter Charlene White pointed out: ‘Women do like gameshows too and there’s not many women.’ 

Mr Kelpie insisted: ‘We have been trying to find a combination of a female host and the right format for about two years. And we are going to keep going until we get it, and I know other producers are doing this as well.’

While a BBC source told The Mirror: ‘We are pushing towards a 50-50 split which is a far cry from ITV who have got a long way to go. It’s crazy that in this day and age, they have such a male-dominated schedule.’ 

Male-dominated: The news comes as ITV came under fire for having no women hosts fronting game shows or quizzes (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire's Jeremy Clarkson pictured)

Male-dominated: The news comes as ITV came under fire for having no women hosts fronting game shows or quizzes (Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’s Jeremy Clarkson pictured) 

But a source at ITV told the publication: ‘We do have female presenters on daytime and entertainment shows outside of quizzes and we have been piloting some quizzes that have female hosts.

‘We are always looking for new quiz ideas and we are actively looking to have a range of strong hosts.’ 

Pilots supposedly being considered are thought to include Alison Hammond hosting an ITV reboot of Wheel of Fortune, while Anne Robinson, 76, was recently names as the new host of Countdown.