Shaun Wallace gets stuck on the name of a 109-year-old's giraffe
The Chase star lost a six-question quiz to New Zealand's second oldest person, Doris Wakelin, during a surprise visit to Ashburton.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Shaun Wallace, known as the Dark Destroyer on the British quiz show The Chase, lost a friendly competition to Doris Wakelin on Tuesday. The 109-year-old resident of Ashburton, New Zealand, outscored Wallace in a six-question quiz designed by local activities co-ordinator Jasmine Richardson. Wallace answered five questions correctly but missed one, resulting in a victory for Wakelin.
The encounter was a surprise for Wakelin, who is the second oldest person in New Zealand and a devoted fan of the program. Richardson created the questions to test Wallace's local knowledge, while Hokonui Radio's James Wood served as the host. Wallace demonstrated familiarity with Ashburton, correctly identifying Allen’s Road as the location of the historic Chinese village and naming Boulevard Day as the former title of the East Street Market Day. He also knew that Wakelin's favorite song is The Rose.
The single question that defeated Wallace asked for the name of Wakelin's birthday giraffe. The animal is named Bradley, a tribute to Bradley Walsh, Wallace's co-host on The Chase. Despite the loss, Wallace acknowledged Wakelin's performance. "I may have won the quiz but Doris is the real winner," he said. "She gave me a run for my money and is a very special lady."
The visit was arranged because Bradley Walsh could not travel to New Zealand himself. He asked Wallace to make the trip in his place, prompting contact between Wallace's team and the Millstream care home staff. Richardson and Wakelin's daughter, Noella Talbot, prepared Wakelin for the visit by casually mentioning Wallace's name during the week. This strategy prevented her from being overwhelmed on the day of the event.
Prior to the visit, Wakelin had expressed a dislike for Wallace's character on the show. "She says he's too grumpy on the show," Richardson noted. However, Wallace's demeanor during the visit won over Wakelin and the packed room of onlookers. Richardson presented Wallace with a gift box containing New Zealand treats, including pineapple lumps, Whittaker’s chocolate, Bluebird chips, reduced cream dip ingredients, and the largest size of All Black socks available.
Both participants received engraved cups to mark the occasion, with Wakelin's cup being the largest. Wallace is currently in New Zealand for the sixth time to raise funds for Cure Kids through his Quiz Night with Shaun Wallace tour. The visit represents a direct connection to the show Wakelin enjoys, despite the absence of her preferred host.
Talbot reflected on the event, stating that while it is a shame Bradley could not come in person, the visit remains a strong link to The Chase for her mother. The quiz session concluded with Wallace leaving the care home, having lost the competition but gained the admiration of the local community.
