THE CHASE STAR DEFENDS BRADLEY WALSH AFTER FURIOUS VIEWERS ACCUSE ITV SHOW OF ‘CHEATING’ CONTESTANTS OUT OF £45,000

Bradley Walsh found himself at the centre of a furious controversy after two contestants lost out on £45,000 during a dramatic episode of The Chase, prompting accusations that the ITV quiz show had treated them unfairly.

The episode, broadcast in January 2026, saw contestants Marsha from Lincoln and Ian from Wigan reach the Final Chase against Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett.

After building a prize fund of £45,000, the pair answered 18 questions correctly before facing the formidable Chaser.

However, a disputed ruling during the final round sparked outrage among viewers.

ONE ANSWER SPARKS A £45,000 CONTROVERSY

During the Final Chase, Mark incorrectly answered a question about the biblical figure King David.

The contestants were given an opportunity to push him back, but confusion erupted when Marsha and Ian offered different answers almost simultaneously.

Ian correctly identified Bathsheba, while Marsha said Helen.

Bradley ruled that Marsha’s answer had been given first and therefore had to be accepted under the show’s rules.

Despite Ian providing the correct response, the team was denied the pushback.

The decision proved especially painful when Mark caught the contestants with just one second remaining, leaving them without the £45,000 prize.

VIEWERS ACCUSE THE SHOW OF UNFAIR PLAY

Angry fans flooded social media, accusing the programme of denying the finalists a legitimate opportunity to win.

Some argued that Ian’s correct answer should have counted because he was the nominated spokesperson for the team.

Others questioned whether the contestants had been given sufficient time to agree on their response.

Several viewers even suggested that the pair deserved a consolation prize.

MARK LABBETT BREAKS HIS SILENCE

As criticism mounted, Mark Labbett stepped in to defend Bradley Walsh.

Responding to allegations that the presenter had invented a rule during the programme, Mark explained that the decision would have come from the show’s adjudicator rather than Bradley himself.

His intervention shifted attention towards the programme’s behind-the-scenes decision-making process.

One viewer acknowledged Mark’s explanation but maintained that Bradley, as the public face of the show, had been placed in a difficult position.

ITV was contacted for comment following the controversy.

The disputed answer lasted only seconds, but it left two contestants empty-handed and sparked a debate over fairness that continued long after the episode ended.