The Chase star shares 'mind-blowing' fact that 'almost everyone gets wrong'

Darragh Ennis, known as The Menace on The Chase, has shared a 'mind-blowing' fact about the Buddha that 'almost everyone gets wrong' - and it's left fans astounded.

Darragh Ennis, a quiz master on ITV's The Chase, recently left his social media followers scratching their heads with a "mind-blowing fact that almost everyone gets wrong".

The Dublin-born Chaser, who regularly appears alongside Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Shaun Wallace and Jenny Ryan on the popular quiz show hosted by Bradley Walsh, asked his followers to visualise Buddha on social media.

Most people have a specific image of what Buddha looks like - but it turns out most people are picturing an entirely different person.

He then revealed that the commonly pictured jolly figure is not Buddha at all, but a Chinese Buddhist monk named Budai who lived about 1,500 years after the actual Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. According to Darragh, the real Buddha was "said to be very thin" due to regular fasting.

Siddhartha lived over 2,600 years ago, and worked as a teacher whose ideas formed the basis of Buddhism. Darragh then shared a picture of the person most people think of, reports the Daily Record.

He told his followers: "If you think of this jolly, happy fella who clearly enjoys cake a bit too much, then you're wrong, that's not the Buddha at all. That is a Chinese Buddhist monk who lives about 1,500 years after the actual Buddha."

The quiz expert went on to explain the figure is actually called Budai, which he confessed makes it "a bit confusing".

However, Darragh explained to his followers that the figure is a totally different person.

Darragh revealed a little-known fact about the Buddha, noting that he was "said to be very thin" because he "fasted regularly".

He went on to clarify misconceptions by presenting images of statues that depict the 'true' representations of Siddhartha Gautama.

Darragh explained: "He was a prince who renounced his privileged position and wandered around teaching his peaceful philosophy for the rest of his life.

"If you're not aware what those teachings are, basically it's about finding what's called the middle way - be not too indulgent, not too strict on yourself and emphasis on things like kindness to others, meditation and mindfulness."

The clarification left many stunned in the comment section with one person commenting: "I can't believe it's not Buddha."

Another wrote: "My whole life has been a lie."

Someone else added: "Yep I thought he was the little happy guy."

This prompted a sympathetic reply from Darragh, who replied: "You're far from alone."

The Chase continues weekdays on ITV from 5pm.