The Chase's 'Dark Destroyer' reacts to claims he was sacked by ITV bosses

ITV's The Chase has been a stalwart of British TV since it first hit our screens in 2009.

Fans regularly tune in to watch contestants take on quizzing legends in hopes of bagging some serious cash.

But eagle-eyed viewers have noticed one of the Chasers hasn't been around for a while and it's left them worried that they'd gotten the boot.

Shaun Wallace - also known as the 'Dark Destroyer' - is a fan favourite among The Chase viewers, having been a part of the ITV quiz show since the very start.

But for some time now, he hasn't made an appearance on the show.

After fans expressed concerns that ITV bosses had sacked the 64-year-old, Wallace has spoken out and set the record straight.

During an appearance on The Hearing - A Legal Podcast, he explained that because he's a working lawyer, he is sometimes unavailable to film episodes for extended periods of time.

Wallace said: "If I've got a long trial, then that will take precedence over my filming, and The Chase know that. But I've then got to make up my other episodes later on in the series."

"So when people see me... not seen me on TV for a long time... 'Has he been sacked?' No, just back to my legal career," he reassured fans.

Fan favourite Shaun Wallace hasn't appeared on The Chase recently, leaving fans worried that he'd been fired. (ITV)

Wallace first rose to fame when he won the long-running BBC quiz show Mastermind in 2004.

But, he's always maintained his legal career alongside TV appearances, saying in an interview with Woman's Weekly New Zealand last month that he knows the fame 'could all end tomorrow.'

He joked that in order to balance both careers, he's practically 'married' to his work and says that in court people only care about his ability to argue claimant's cases.

But while it's all business in the courtroom, Wallace has often left The Chase host Bradley Walsh in hysterics during his appearances on the show.

Wallace has revealed that he sometimes has to take time away from the show because of his legal career. (ITV)

During a particularly funny blunder in November of last year, contestant Ryan came across a rather bizarre question.

It asked: "What animal was reportedly used to lay cables around Buckingham Palace for the broadcast of Charles and Diana's wedding?"

The three options available were a mole, a ferret or a badger.

Ryan chuckled: "Can you imagine a mole taking the cables through?"

Walsh had already began to lose composure by this point and went on a tangent about the animal workers.

He joked: "It's not that, it's seeing him come through the hole like 'Where do you want this lads? Anyone got my gloves? Right Baz, put that down... ma'am'."

Ryan was right on the money when he answered 'ferret,' and viewers assumed Wallace would get it right as well.

But he incorrectly answered mole instead and Walsh couldn't control himself any longer, bursting into fits of laughter.