Viewers of ITV's popular quiz programme The 1% Club have erupted in frustration following Saturday's episode, which featured a final question described by many as a "trick" that "makes no sense". The contentious puzzle resulted in the substantial prize pot remaining unclaimed, sparking a heated debate across social media platforms.
Contestant Gambles £10,000 in Tense Final Round
Hosted by the quick-witted comedian Lee Mack, the show challenges 100 contestants with progressively difficult questions, aiming to identify the intellectual top one percent capable of solving the ultimate conundrum within thirty seconds. The format begins with questions that 90% of people are expected to answer correctly, but the difficulty escalates sharply towards the climax.
During the January 31st broadcast, only one contestant, Amena, successfully navigated the preliminary rounds to reach the final stage, securing £10,000 in prize money. Demonstrating considerable nerve, Amena chose to gamble her entire winnings for a chance at the jackpot, which can reach up to £100,000. However, it was the nature of the final one percent question that became the episode's central controversy.
The Controversial Cookery Book Conundrum
The final challenge presented a visual puzzle. Contestants were shown an image of three equally sized cookery book volumes lined up in order on a shelf. The question stated: "The total thickness of the pages of each volume is 5cm, and each cover is 5mm thick. What is the distance in centimetres between the first page of volume one and the last page of volume three?"
Amena answered 14.9cm, which was incorrect. Host Lee Mack revealed the correct answer to be 7cm. He explained the logic: "When stored upright, the first page of a book is on the right, and the last page is on the left, so you only need to measure the pages of one book and four covers." This reasoning hinges on understanding the physical orientation of books on a shelf, which many viewers found misleading.
Social Media Erupts With Confusion and Criticism
The explanation did little to quell the uproar among the show's dedicated fanbase. Viewers instantly took to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to voice their bewilderment and annoyance.
One exasperated viewer posted: "That was a bloody dodgy last question #The1PercentClub." The sentiment was widely echoed, with another stating: "That 1% Q makes no sense whatsoever #The1PercentClub."
Many labelled it a classic trick question, with one comment reading: "#The1PercentClub this is a classic trick question!" Others expressed sheer bafflement, with viewers describing it as a "proper stinker" and pleading for detailed mathematical workings to justify the answer.
The confusion was palpable, as some viewers attempted their own calculations, arriving at different figures altogether. One challenged the show's answer, suggesting: "The answer is 5.2 cm (1 book at 5cm) (4 covers at 5mm / 0.05cm equalling 0.2cm)". Another simply asked: "Hold on why isn’t it 17? Someone explain."
The Aftermath of an Unclaimed Jackpot
The fallout from this puzzling final question means the show's jackpot remains intact, rolling over to a future episode. While The 1% Club is designed to separate the truly exceptional minds from the crowd, this particular puzzle has highlighted how the line between clever complexity and perceived unfairness can sometimes blur, leaving even the most ardent fans scratching their heads.
The incident underscores the high-stakes, nerve-wracking nature of the programme, where a single, nuanced question can mean the difference between walking away with life-changing money or empty-handed. The 1% Club continues to air on Saturday evenings on ITV and the ITVX streaming service, promising more intellectual battles—and potentially more controversial puzzles—in the weeks to come.
