The Chase star Mark Labbett has firmly dismissed mounting viewer suspicions that the popular ITV quiz show deliberately increases question difficulty when contestants opt for high cash offers, labelling the widespread social media claims as "absolutely not true".
Viewer Backlash Erupts Over Perceived Question Rigging
During Wednesday's episode (February 4), fans of the weekday quiz show took to platform X in significant numbers to voice a consistent complaint. Their contention centred on the belief that the questions presented to contestants become markedly more challenging when they decide to pursue the higher cash offer from the chaser.
The controversy ignited during the episode featuring a contestant named Harri. Despite securing only £3,000 in his initial cash builder round, Harri was presented with a dramatic choice: a low offer of minus £1,000 or a staggering high offer of £68,000. Chaser Mark "The Beast" Labbett notably encouraged the bold move, telling Harri, "You've no excuse not to take this."
Social Media Alight with Suspicion
When Harri accepted the high-risk £68,000 offer, viewers immediately flooded social media with observations that the subsequent questions seemed disproportionately difficult. "What a pathetic question, the questions get harder when you go high I don't care what anyone says," one viewer asserted passionately.
Another concurred, stating simply, "Big difference in questions when you go high." A third fan humorously referenced the sitcom The Office, posting a meme with the caption: "Go and get the difficult set of questions!" Despite his confidence, Harri was ultimately caught by The Beast and left the studio empty-handed.
Labbett's Direct Address to the Audience
The episode culminated in a nail-biting Final Chase with the two remaining contestants, Andy and Caren, who had both taken more cautious routes. They faced The Beast with a £7,000 prize pot. In a tense finish, Mark Labbett was forced to jump in with answers before host Bradley Walsh could finish reading questions, having lost time through earlier incorrect responses.
Following his narrow victory, Labbett seized the moment to directly confront the online speculation. "Can I address something? There's a thing on social media, people claim that it's unfair. The Chasers can jump in and interrupt you [Bradley], and the contestants can't. That is absolutely not true," he declared firmly to the camera.
Clarifying the Rules of Engagement
Labbett went on to explain the mechanics of the game, aiming to dispel the myth. "The contestants can jump in whenever they like, if they're brave enough or confident enough. In other words, we jumped in early because I had to be there." He concluded by praising the defeated duo, adding, "Thank goodness it was right. Otherwise, I'd have lost. Very well played, guys."
The incident highlights the intense scrutiny and passionate debate that surrounds one of Britain's most beloved quiz formats. The show continues to broadcast on ITV on weeknight evenings at 5pm, consistently generating water-cooler moments and online discussion.
