Anne Hegerty has firmly insisted that host Bradley Walsh is not leaving The Chase.
The 62-year-old quiz show veteran, also known as The Governess on The Chase franchise, has appeared alongside Bradley on the ITV show since 2010.
No suggestion from ITV or Bradley himself was ever made that he was leaving the quiz show.
Addressing recent bookies' speculation that Bradley may be departing the series, Anne hit back at the suggestion that either she or Bradley will be departing the popular quiz show.
Anne tweeted: "Firstly, Brad isn't leaving.
"Secondly, I'm not leaving. Thirdly, I'm a woman and I DO present an ITV gameshow (Britain's Brightest Celebrity Family)."
Anne also barred replies beyond accounts that she follows or mentioned in the tweet itself.
The erroneous speculation about Bradley's future on the show first began when new spin-off series The Chase EXTRA was announced.
It will see the Chasers - including Mark ‘The Beast' Labbett, Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty, Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha, Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan, Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace and Darragh ‘The Menace’ Ennis - helm their own episodes as quiz masters. There will be no overall host.
After the spin-off was announced betting giant Paddy Power slashed its odds of Bradley leaving The Chase to 10/11, according to The Sun.
Now Anne has dispelled any doubts about Bradley's future on the show.
Anne also clearly pointed out that any criticisms of ITV not having female quiz show hosts is unfounded, as she has been presenting Britain's Brightest Family since 2018.
Anne also recently appeared on the show The Chasers Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles alongside Mark 'The Beast' Labbett and Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace.
After criticism for swimming with dolphins in the episode,which aired last month on ITV, Anne responded when appearing on Good Morning Britain.
She said" "It’s not really something I want to get into.
"These, as I understand it, were rescue dolphins and as far as I knew, they were were very well looked after."
Anne added: "I know there have been some issues with dolphin entertainment centres but my understanding was this wasn't the same sort of place.
"But really that’s all I can say, I’m not an expert."
The Mirror has approached a representative of Bradley Walsh for comment on this story.
ITV declined to comment when approached by The Mirror.
*The Chase continues on weekdays at 5pm on ITV and is available on catch-up on ITV Hub.
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