ITV’s The Chase sparks fan backlash after £1,000 Final Chase leaves viewers unimpressed

Friday night’s episode of The Chase left some ITV viewers questioning the point of the game after only one contestant made it through to the Final Chase, with just £1,000 on the table.

Bradley Walsh was back in the presenter’s chair on Friday, September 18, as Paul, Julia, Rachel and Tom took on Mark Labbett, better known to viewers as The Beast. The episode aired at 5pm on ITV, in the programme’s regular weekday slot.

The game quickly became a difficult one for the team. Paul and Julia were eliminated before Rachel stepped up for her head-to-head with Mark.

Rachel chose the lower offer of £1,000 and successfully made it back to the team. Tom then faced The Beast, but he was unable to beat the Chaser, leaving Rachel as the only contestant with a chance of reaching the Final Chase.

She answered 12 questions correctly, giving herself a chance to take the prize money into the final round.

Mark, however, was quick to close the gap. His rapid-fire answers left Bradley with little choice but to take away Rachel’s £1,000, meaning she was left playing alone for the same amount.

Rachel joked: “It’s a bit lonely over here to be honest.”

Mark replied: “I’ve nothing but respect for you Rachel, unlucky.”

Viewers complain about the episode

The unusual finish did not go down well with some viewers watching at home.

Several took to X to complain about the episode, with one describing it as a “waste of an episode”. Another called it “one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time”.

One viewer sarcastically wrote: “What a final round this will be.”

Another criticised the decision to devote an hour to a game in which a single contestant was left attempting to win £1,000, writing: “What an utter waste of an hour’s tv schedule – watching one person trying to win £1,000. They should just bin crap episodes like this.”

Another viewer pointed out the unusual situation facing Rachel, posting: “Now we are left with the Low Offer taker playing for only £1K in the Final Chase!”

A further complaint described the episode as an “Absolute joke” and questioned the purpose of airing what the viewer called “this kind of drivel”.

The criticism centred largely on the lack of a substantial prize at the end of the game. With Paul, Julia and Tom all eliminated and Rachel having accepted the lower offer, there was no large team prize left to chase.

Bradley Walsh and Mark Labbett face a brutal question

The episode had already produced an awkward moment earlier in the game when Bradley and Mark were confronted with an unusually difficult question.

The question asked: “How many copper half farthings were there in a pre-decimal British pound?”

Bradley immediately reacted with “wow”, while Mark put his head in his hands after seeing the question.

Bradley later described it as a “horrible question”.

Despite his reaction, Mark managed to come up with the correct answer. He explained that he was “not too shabby with numbers”, but his knowledge ultimately proved costly for 21-year-old student Julia, who was unable to progress.

The episode was part of The Chase’s 18th series and featured Paul, Julia, Rachel and Tom taking on Mark Labbett. The programme remains a weekday fixture on ITV, with episodes also available through ITVX.

While Rachel was the only contestant to reach the Final Chase, the limited prize and one-sided finish became the main talking point for viewers, prompting a wave of criticism on social media.

The Chase continues weekdays at 5pm on ITV and ITVX.