The Chase Star Defends Bradley Walsh After Viewers Accuse ITV Show of 'Cheating'
Mark 'The Beast' Labbett, one of the formidable chasers on ITV's popular quiz programme The Chase, has publicly defended host Bradley Walsh following a storm of viewer complaints alleging unfair play during a recent episode. The controversy erupted after a contentious ruling in the final chase segment, which saw two contestants lose out on a substantial £45,000 prize pot.
Controversial Final Chase Sparks Viewer Fury
During last night's broadcast, contestants Marsha from Lincoln and Ian from Wigan faced Labbett in the final chase, aiming to secure £45,000 after their teammates Laura and Najam were eliminated earlier in the show. The pair had set a target of 18 correct answers, putting them in a strong position to win.
The dispute centred on a pushback question posed to Mark Labbett: 'In the Bible, King David saw which beautiful woman bathing?' When Labbett provided an incorrect response, the contestants had the opportunity to push back with the right answer. Ian correctly answered 'Bathsheba', but host Bradley Walsh ruled that Marsha's simultaneous answer of 'Helen' was the first given, and therefore had to be accepted as their official response.
Walsh explained his decision to the contestants, stating: 'Bathsheba is correct, however, Marsha without nomination looked at me and called the answer first which was Helen. I have to accept the first answer, so I have to tell you that was wrong.' This ruling proved decisive, as Labbett went on to defeat the contestants with just one second remaining on the clock.
Social Media Erupts with Allegations of Unfair Play
The outcome prompted an immediate and furious reaction from viewers on social media platform X, with many accusing the show of effectively 'stealing' the money from the contestants. One viewer, @amesharve, claimed Marsha and Ian 'were played like a fiddle on that final Chase', describing the situation as 'utter crap'.
Another user, Chris, declared that 'those two contestants in the final Chase have just been royally screwed over', while @Orpingtondad called it 'absolute daylight robbery', arguing 'they've stolen the money off of those poor contestants'.
John criticised the ruling as an 'absolute disgrace', suggesting that 'her slip up on the question looked like they were still discussing it'. @ItsOnlyRash echoed the sentiment, tweeting: 'What an annoying but cruel way to go. That will keep them up at night. £22.5K each gone with a second to spare.'
Yvonne offered a potential solution, writing: 'Brad should have taken Ian's answer as he was the nominated player to give their answers to push backs. Or at least asked them which answer they wanted to offer.' Some viewers have even called for ITV to award the pair a consolation prize following what they perceive as a harsh and unfair decision.
Mark Labbett Steps In to Defend Bradley Walsh
Amid the growing controversy, Mark Labbett has directly addressed allegations that Bradley Walsh was 'making rules up on the spot'. Taking to X himself, the chaser stated: 'I can guarantee that the adjudicator made that call rather than Brad.'
This intervention aimed to shield Walsh from personal criticism, shifting responsibility to the show's official adjudication process. The same fan responded to Labbett, acknowledging: 'I expect they did Mark. But our Brad is the face of the programme, and he was let down.'
The incident has highlighted the intense scrutiny and passionate following that The Chase commands, with viewers deeply invested in the fairness and integrity of the quiz format. Metro has contacted ITV for an official comment regarding the ruling and the subsequent viewer backlash.
The Chase continues to be a ratings powerhouse for ITV, available to watch on both ITV and the ITVX streaming service. The show's format, which pits everyday contestants against professional quizzers like Labbett, regularly generates dramatic moments, though few have sparked such widespread controversy as this latest ruling.
