He’s the brainy Irish quizzer who’s become a firm fan favourite on The Chase, terrifying contestants with his lightning-fast answers and cheeky smirk as ‘The Menace’.

But behind the scenes, Darragh Ennis, 45, has been forced to address swirling rumours about his relationships with fellow Chasers – insisting there’s no bad blood, but debunking the ‘weird idea’ that they all hang out constantly or even share a house!

In a candid new interview, the Dublin-born boffin – who joined the ITV smash in 2020 – has opened up about life with his co-stars, revealing they ‘don’t see each other that much’ due to the show’s intense block filming schedule.

‘Everyone thinks we live in a house together,’ Darragh laughed, clearing up the common misconception that’s had fans speculating for years. ‘We clearly don’t do that!’

The revelation comes as The Chase continues to dominate daytime TV, with viewers hooked on the banter between host Bradley Walsh and the formidable lineup of quizzing giants: Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett, Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty, Shaun ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Wallace, Paul ‘The Sinnerman’ Sinha, and Jenny ‘The Vixen’ Ryan.

Darragh, a former neuroscientist who lives quietly in Oxford with his wife and two young children, told DublinLive: ‘We get on great, but the show is recorded in blocks – we do three shows a day, so you really only see the person before you and after you for a handover. I see more of Bradley and the crew!’

Insiders say Darragh’s comments have put to bed any whispers of tension among the Chasers, with a source close to the show telling the Daily Mail: ‘They’re all professionals who respect each other enormously. There’s no big rivalry off-screen – it’s all friendly. But they’re not best mates who go for pints every week either. They have their own lives.’

Fans have long been fascinated by the dynamics, especially after Darragh’s unique entry to the show – he first appeared as a contestant in 2017, taking on Paul Sinha and winning £9,000 before impressing producers so much they invited him to join the team.

That contestant stint created an instant link with Paul, whom Darragh has previously revealed he knew from the quiz league circuit. ‘I tend to get on with Paul and Jenny best,’ he admitted on a recent podcast. ‘We’re closer in age to Jenny, and Paul’s just a lovely guy.’

But he confessed he doesn’t socialise as much with some others, citing lifestyle differences – though he was quick to stress it’s all amicable.

They do reunite more often for the spin-off Beat the Chasers, where the whole team gangs up on contestants, and at glitzy award shows. Darragh even attended Jenny’s milestone 40th birthday bash, proving the bonds are genuine when they do catch up.

The Chase, now in its 15th series, remains a ratings juggernaut, pulling in millions each afternoon as Bradley Walsh, 65, keeps the chaos flowing with his trademark humour.

Darragh sees far more of Bradley than his fellow Chasers, joking: ‘Brad’s the one constant – he’s brilliant.’

Bradley himself has praised the team, once calling them ‘the best in the business’.

Let’s take a look back at how Darragh became ‘The Menace’. Born in Dublin, he excelled at school before studying biology and earning a PhD in neuroscience at Maynooth University – where he met his future wife. They were housemates and close friends before romance blossomed.

The couple are fiercely private, with Darragh shielding their kids from the spotlight entirely. ‘My wife doesn’t want to be involved, and I don’t share photos of the children,’ he’s said.

Before TV fame, Darragh worked as a lab researcher at Oxford University, specialising in insect brains – hence his entomology sideline.

But quizzing was always his passion. He dominated pub leagues and even helped fund his honeymoon by winning big on shows.

His 2017 Chase appearance went viral when he outsmarted Paul, trending on Twitter (now X) overnight.

Producers kept tabs, and in 2020 – after a fan petition demanding a new Chaser – they unveiled Darragh as the sixth member.

His debut was electric, with fans hailing him as ‘the nicest Chaser’ for his calm demeanour and fair play.

‘He’s tough but fair,’ one viewer posted recently after an episode where he stormed a high target.

Darragh’s also opened up about personal challenges, including grieving his father’s death in recent years and dealing with online trolls early in his Chaser days – so much that producers advised him to step back from social media.

But he’s bounced back stronger, becoming a regular on panels and even guesting on Loose Women to discuss loss.

Off-screen, the Chasers lead separate lives: Anne with her autism advocacy, Paul with comedy and his Parkinson’s journey, Mark with weight loss triumphs, Shaun with barrister work, and Jenny with panto and music.

Yet when they unite, it’s magic – as seen on Beat the Chasers, where their combined brainpower is unstoppable.

Darragh’s clarification has delighted fans, with one tweeting: ‘Love that Darragh set the record straight – no drama, just normal colleagues who get on!’

Another added: ‘The idea they live together is hilarious. Glad they’re friends though!’

A third gushed: ‘Darragh is my fave – so down-to-earth. More Menace please!’

With The Chase showing no signs of slowing – and spin-offs thriving – viewers can rest easy knowing the team is harmonious, even if they’re not flatmates.

As Darragh put it: ‘We get on great – it’s just not like people imagine!’

No feuds, no fallouts – just a bunch of brilliant brains doing what they do best.

Long may The Chase continue!