Coronation Street star Tony Maudsley appears in a festive special of ITV’s The Chase on Christmas Day alongside fellow celebrities Kerry Godliman, Bryony Page and Alexander Armstrong

Coronation Street star Tony Maudsley has opened up about the unexpected nerves he felt while taking part in a Celebrity special of The Chase.

The 56-year-old actor is known to millions as George Shuttleworth in the long-running ITV soap – a role he has held down since 2020. For years before his turn on Corrie, Tony won fans for his portrayal as the hairdresser Kenneth Du Beke in hit long-running comedy Benidorm – a show he appeared in from 2011 until 2018.

However, playing a character and being able to immerse himself in lines that have been written seems to be an easier challenge than taking to a panel to answer general knowledge questions. The actor is one of the stars taking part in a festive special of The Chase – which has aired since 2009 and is presented by Bradley Walsh.

Tony has admitted that appearing on the popular game show threw his confidence as he was forced to rely on his own wits to take on one of the chasers. He appears in a new episode alongside After Life actress Kerry Godliman, Olympian Bryony Page and presenter Alexander Armstrong.

Tony stars on The Chase Christmas Day special alongside Kerry Godliman, Bryony Page and Alexander Armstrong (Image: Instagram)

Speaking about his time in the game show studio lights, Tony told the Daily Star: “The minute I said yes to going on The Chase, the nerves started to kick in. Faced with a ticking clock, a chance to win big for charity and a studio audience, the pressure and my nerves went through the roof!”

He added: “I’ve been a massive fan of The Chase for years. I love playing along at home from the comfort of my armchair where no one cares or even hears if you get one wrong. It’s all very well shouting the answers at the telly from your sofa at home but the pressure of a studio audience and the very real possibility that you could get every question wrong and might have to do the ‘walk of shame’ on national television is a very different story!”

Various episodes of The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special are set to air over the coming week – with Tony and his team taking part in the festive episode that airs on Christmas Day itself at 8pm. The episode is listed as follows: “Bradley Walsh presents as actor Tony Maudsley, Olympic trampoline champion Bryony Page, actress Kerry Godliman and Pointless presenter Alexander Armstrong take on one of Britain’s finest quizzing brains, hoping to win money for their chosen charities. They must work as a team and play strategically to answer general knowledge questions against the clock and race down the game board to the exit without being caught.”

McFly’s Harry Judd, actress Angela Griffin, dancer Kai Widdrington and actor and comedian Shane Richie also took part in a festive special of the long-running game show. Their episode airs tonight, Sunday 22 December 2024, at 4:55pm and can also be watched via ITVX.