Viewers of The Chase were shocked to see "Barry from EastEnders" on a Soccer Aid special, but that didn't stop the soap star from contributing a huge cash sum to the team's prize. Actor Shaun Williamson, who famously played Barry Evans in EastEnders, took on Chaser Darragh 'The Menace' Ennis on Friday, June 10. The episode came after a special edition of Tipping Point aired earlier in the week, which you can read about here.
Friday's special episode, which saw celebrities tackle the Chaser in a bid to win money for UNICEF, featured a host of sporting stars. Footballers Lianne Sanderson, Dion Dublin and David James all took on Ennis in the episode. The inclusion of Williamson was said to be "random" as he has no obvious affiliation to sport or football.
Williamson, who previously appeared on a 2019 episode of Beat the Chasers, is a Fulham FC supporter. Despite his out-of-the-blue appearance, Twitter users appeared to be thrilled to see him with one saying: "Barry from EastEnders should be good. He's a smart bloke!" And they were not wrong, Williamson added £132,000 to the prize pot in his round against Ennis, bringing the total played for in the final round as £150,000.
Read more: Love Island's Liam Llewellyn 'quits' the series after five days in the villa
In the final round, the group got 24 steps, making it near impossible for The Chaser to beat them. Ennis, who was pushed back three times, was unable to catch them.
Another wrote: "Yay! Barry from EastEnders," as host Bradley Walsh introduced the actor.
During his time on EastEnders, Williamson was involved in several big storylines. He appeared on the show between 1994 and 2004, until his character was brutally killed off by Janine Butcher.
Aside from EastEnders, Williamson, 56, is recognisable for appearing in the Ricky Gervais comedy series, Extras, in which he played a fictional version of himself. Over the course of his career, he has made numerous appearances across TV and film.
The Chase airs on weekdays on ITV at 5pm
