The Dark Destroyer’s a real knockout!

Nearly 300 keen OU students and alumni were recently chasing Dr Shaun Wallace, otherwise known as ‘The Dark Destroyer’ from ITV’s The Chase, for his knowledge and inspiration.

An English barrister, lecturer and television personality, Shaun became the first black champion of Mastermind in 2004 and has been a contestant on other television quiz shows such as Are you an Egghead?, Fifteen to One, The Weakest Link and Greed over the years.

His keynote lunchtime presentation on campus in Milton Keynes (also livestreamed) on Thursday 10 November, followed by a question and answer session, was one of many events attended by OU students and alumni as part of CareersFest, more than 30 employer and careers events over three days.

His appearance was organised by Law Lecturer Dr Miriam Amanze, in conjunction with the OU’s Careers and Employability Services team.

Shaun’s legal credentials are undoubted as he was called to the Bar in late 1984 and has been a senior criminal defence advocate ever since. He is currently attached to the Great James Street Chambers, specialising in a wide range of serious criminal cases from murder, manslaughter, fraud, money laundering, firearms and drug trafficking.

As a lecturer, Shaun has tutored in environmental law, health and safety and road transport law and regulations.

We had students travel from as far as Leeds, Cambridge and London and they were really engaged. They seemed to enjoy Shaun’s presentation, had lots of questions for him and there was a queue for autographs, pictures and a brief chat at the end.

A massive thank you to Shaun for visiting us in Milton Keynes. He is willing to collaborate with the Law School and I’m confident that, together, we will encourage students to chase their dreams.

Dr Miriam Amanze, Lecturer in Law, OU Law School

Eddie Tunnah, a Senior Careers and Employability Consultant, had welcomed the in-person and online audience, before Professor Devendra Kodwani (pictured with Shaun), Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law (FBL), introduced Shaun and his numerous achievements.