‘The Chase’ star Mark Labbett believes he will have to return to teaching one day when he "can’t afford" to remain on the show.
The 54-year-old quizzer – who is nicknamed The Beast on the ITV show – admits the upcoming introduction of a new Chaser will probably mean "less work" for him and his co-stars, who include Anne Hegerty, and Jenny Ryan, and he predicts one day he could be back in the classroom full-time.
He said: "We only get paid for when we work so a new Chaser means less work.
"There will be a point where I can’t afford to do it any more. I’ll have to go back to teaching.
"Last year, we only filmed half as Bradley Walsh was on ‘Doctor Who’ and if I didn’t have other work it would be really tough."
Mark would love to present ‘University Challenge’ one day, but admits it is tough to find other work on the box because "TV has too many white middle-aged quiz presenters".
He added to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column: "I’ve got a slight disadvantage because TV has too many white middle-aged quiz presenters.
"I haven’t had as many offers as Anne Hegerty and we have the same agent.
"My dream would be to host ‘University Challenge’."
Mark recently admitted fans always ask him to "pick them up" into the air, particularly when he makes appearances at universities during Freshers’ Week, but he has to turn people down because he’s "getting old".
He said: "The weird ones are the ones that ask me to pick them up. I made a promise I would only do it with the people I love and secondly, I am getting old.
"But some people can’t take for an answer. It’s fun though, you get all the weird and wonderful shots. It’s lovely meeting all the students though."
Mark Labbett plans teaching return when he ‘can’t afford’ to do The Chase anymore
