Bradley Walsh and Richard Osman may front rival teatime quiz shows, but their relationship away from the cameras is far more friendly than viewers might expect.
The hosts of ITV’s The Chase and BBC One’s Pointless have often found themselves competing for viewers in the same television time slot. Yet rather than being rivals behind the scenes, the pair have developed a close friendship – and Bradley has even made a habit of turning up on Richard’s set.
During an appearance on the ITV panel show Play To The Whistle, Bradley revealed that the studios where the two programmes are filmed are next to each other.
That convenient arrangement means the Chase presenter can occasionally wander over to the Pointless set during his breaks.
Bradley Walsh has a favourite seat on Pointless
Bradley explained that he regularly visits Richard while the BBC quiz show is being recorded – and has even taken over one of its most recognisable spots.
“Funnily enough, Rich and I record our shows in the studios next to each other and I normally, during my breaks, go in and walk onto his set and sit in Rich’s chair!” Bradley said.
The revelation prompted a playful response from Richard, who clearly wasn’t about to let his friend get away without a joke.
“Yes, he does, God bless Bradley,” Richard replied.
The exchange gave viewers an insight into the friendly relationship between the two presenters, despite their programmes being broadcast by competing channels.
Richard Osman has a joke about The Chase
Richard then turned his attention to Bradley’s own show, joking that The Chase presenter needs to visit the Pointless studio because of the lack of an audience on his programme.
“You see he doesn’t have an audience on his show,” Richard joked. “They advertise but nobody ever turns up!”
He continued by suggesting that Bradley gets lonely and therefore heads next door to interfere with the Pointless production.
“So Bradley gets very lonely and he comes into my studio and disrupts our schedule – all of the time.”
The playful exchange was a far cry from the idea that the two quiz-show hosts might see each other as bitter competitors.
In reality, their programmes simply happen to occupy similar territory in the television schedules, while the presenters themselves appear to have a warm friendship.
The Chase and Pointless remain popular fixtures
The Chase continues to air on weekdays on ITV, with Bradley Walsh at the helm as contestants attempt to build a prize fund before taking on one of the show’s Chasers.
Pointless, meanwhile, offers a very different format, challenging contestants to find obscure answers that score as few points as possible.
The two programmes have frequently been associated with the competitive world of British teatime television, but Bradley’s revelation shows that the rivalry exists largely between the broadcasters rather than the presenters.
The Chase has also continued to generate headlines away from its regular gameplay, including recent attention after a contestant dropped the F-bomb during an episode.
For viewers who have watched Bradley and Richard face off indirectly on television for years, the behind-the-scenes friendship between the pair provides a rather amusing twist: while their shows compete for viewers, Bradley is apparently quite happy to cross the studio and steal Richard Osman’s chair whenever he gets the chance.