The ITV quiz show left viewers convinced the answer was hiding in plain sight, while former contestant Heidi Phillips has revealed how she secured her place in the studio

Eleven contestants chose to pass on a question that many The 1% Club viewers solved within seconds, leaving audiences at home wondering how so many players had been caught out.

The moment came during the latest episode of the ITV quiz show, hosted by Lee Mack, when contestants were faced with a nine-letter insect name hidden among a series of coloured blocks.

For viewers watching from home, the answer appeared remarkably straightforward. In the studio, however, 11 players decided not to risk giving an answer.

The question that left contestants stumped

Unlike traditional quiz shows that rely heavily on general knowledge, The 1% Club is built around logic and common sense. The questions can involve words, numbers and pictures, with contestants having to work out the answer under time pressure.

This particular challenge was the 50% question.

It asked:

“The nine-letter name of which insect is written below with its letters in alphabetical order?”

On screen, the letters appeared in alternating black and yellow blocks. Contestants had 30 seconds to rearrange them and identify the insect.

Lee Mack eventually revealed the answer: Bumblebee.

That was followed by another surprise. Eleven contestants had chosen to pass on the question.

Passing meant using their free pass to remain in the competition and continue towards the final question, where contestants could compete for a share of the jackpot.

For those watching at home, the number of passes was difficult to understand.

Viewers couldn’t believe how many passed

The reaction online was immediate, with viewers describing the puzzle as one of the easier questions they had seen on the show.

Some pointed to the black-and-yellow design as an additional clue, while others said they had worked out the answer almost immediately.

One viewer joked that the question was “easy beesy”, while another said the colours themselves gave the answer away.

Others claimed they had solved it in around 10 seconds and questioned why so many contestants had decided to use their pass.

The contrasting experiences highlighted one of the quirks of The 1% Club: a question that seems instantly clear to viewers at home can feel very different when contestants are sitting under studio lights with a limited amount of time to decide.

The programme’s fourth series began on ITV1 in January 2025, with 100 contestants competing and the questions designed around logic and common sense rather than traditional general knowledge.

Former contestant reveals how she got on the show

Away from the bumblebee puzzle, a former contestant has also shared an insight into what it takes to make it through the show’s audition process.

Heidi Phillips appeared on The 1% Club in January and made it as far as the 30% question before being eliminated.

The 49-year-old first discovered the opportunity through social media. In June 2024, she saw a post about the programme on Facebook, filled out the application form and submitted a video audition.

Rather than giving a straightforward introduction, Heidi decided to make her audition memorable by focusing on her personality.

She had previously worked as an entertainer and said she was comfortable performing in front of people. During her audition, she also joked that if she won the prize money, she would use it to open a trifle sandwich shop.

Heidi says personality mattered

Heidi’s advice to prospective contestants was to avoid giving dull or predictable answers during the application process.

She believed entertaining responses could help applicants stand out, particularly when producers were looking for contestants who could bring personality to the programme.

Her own audition did not go perfectly when it came to the quiz itself.

During a mock quiz, Heidi got the first question wrong, meaning she did not exactly make the strongest impression through her performance on the test.

Instead, she said she spent time telling the producers funny stories and believed they responded positively to her personality and the answers she gave during the audition.

That approach ultimately helped her secure a place in the studio, where she later made it through several rounds before her run ended at the 30% stage.

The experience also gave Heidi a different perspective on what it takes to get onto the programme. Her advice was simple: applicants should let their personality come through rather than relying on safe, predictable answers.

Can you solve the questions from home?

The bumblebee puzzle is a good example of the format that has made The 1% Club a play-along favourite.

Contestants are not expected to memorise obscure facts. Instead, they have to spot patterns, interpret visual clues and think through seemingly simple problems while the clock is running.

That can make the questions particularly deceptive. What looks obvious while sitting comfortably at home can become much harder when there are only 30 seconds to decide whether to answer or use a valuable pass.

In this case, 11 contestants opted for the safer route.

For viewers, however, the answer seemed to be sitting right there in the letters and the black-and-yellow blocks.

The 1% Club is available to watch on ITVX.