Local driving instructor John cuts to ‘The Chase’
CHASE ME!. . . .Derry driving instructor John O'Donnell, who will be appearing on 'The Chase' tv quiz programme. 2809JM68
He might be one ‘L’ of a driver - but local driving instructor John O’Donnell managed to keep his cool when he appeared on award winning TV quiz show ‘The Chase.’
The Anthony Hopkins lookalike takes the hot seat in the ITV show this afternoon for the chance to win thousands of pounds.
John confesses he was relying a little bit on luck when the show was recorded earlier this year - but that shouldn’t be too difficult for a man who five times has had to stand the entire clubhouse of his local golf club a round of drinks after hitting an incredible five holes in one.
“The Chase was my first time on a quiz show,” said John, who’ll be on-screen this afternoon at 5p.m.
“I’m not someone who does pub quizzes or anything,” he said. “I just liked ‘The Chase’ and decided to apply for it.
“I went for the audition and got through. To me it was just a bit of fun, if you want a serious quiz you go on Mastermind!”
Hosted by Bradley Walsh, during the Chase contestants must answer general knowledge questions and play to get themselves into the Final Chase, where they could win a cash pot worth thousands of pounds.
However to get there they have to get past chasers - the Beast, the Barrister, the Sinnerman and the Governess.
John can’t reveal the outcome of today’s show but he says he was most afraid of facing Mark ‘the beast’ who he says “rarely has an off-day.”
“I did take a bit of stick because the Chaser thought I looked a bit like Anthony Hopkins, there were a few jokes about Hannibal Lecter but I gave a bit back,” he said.
“The whole experience was really great, I wasn’t nervous even when we were in the studio.”
The driving instructor who runs ‘1st Choice’ Driving School is now considering applying for other quizzes and said he hopes the start of the Ryder Cup tonight won’t stop people tuning in to see his performance.
As competitions secretary of the North West Golf Club, he says he’s a bit torn himself.
But he’s remaining tight lipped about how he got on in the show.
To find out if he won tune in today at 5pm.
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Weather for Derry
Tuesday 21 May 2013
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Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
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