'The Chase' star Paul Sinha has accused bosses on the ITV show of giving champion quizzer Shaun Wallace a racist nickname.
Paul Sinha
The part-time comic - who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - claims the moniker "the Dark Destroyer" that has been given to barrister Shaun is a lazy racial reference chosen because of the colour of his skin.
Speaking on stage during a comedy gig Lewisham, South East London, Paul said: "In 2011, I landed myself the dream job on the enduringly popular ITV quiz show 'The Chase'.
"I am the t**t in the white suit. I have two nicknames, they are the Sinnerman and the Smiling Assassin. I don't mind as the other Chasers are called the Vixen, the Dark Destroyer, the Governess, the Beast.
"Spare a thought for Shaun Wallace. He has been a barrister for 30 years and what do they call him? The Dark Destroyer? Because low level racism is still allowed on an ITV game show."
According to The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column, Paul, 49, also claimed on stage that Mark got his nickname because his wife Katie is his second cousin, something the quiz genius insists he only found out the day of his wedding.
Paul joked: "Anne Hegerty is called The Governess because she is bossy and cruel, and Mark Labbett is known as the Beast because he is f***ing his cousin. It is a distant cousin."