ITV has no shortage of quiz and game shows, from The Chase and Tipping Point to Deal or No Deal. But while millions of viewers regularly tune in to watch contestants compete for cash prizes, not every programme has won over the British public.
In fact, ITV viewers have now singled out one show they particularly love to criticise – and surprisingly, it isn’t Tipping Point.
The debate began on Reddit after one user asked fellow viewers which quiz or game show they considered the worst ever broadcast in Britain and, more importantly, why.
The responses were fairly decisive.
Tipping Point came a close second (Image: ITV)
Deal or No Deal branded the ‘worst’
Deal or No Deal quickly emerged as the show attracting the most criticism.
Several Reddit users questioned whether the programme could even be considered a proper quiz show, given that its central format revolves around contestants choosing numbered boxes and deciding whether to accept offers from the Banker.
One viewer wrote: “Deal or No Deal. It was just randomly opening boxes, but contestants always talked about their strategies. And to make matters worse, Noel bloody Edmonds.”
Another was even more dismissive, arguing that watching contestants react emotionally to opening boxes did not amount to entertainment.
“Does Deal or No Deal count? If so, that’s your answer. Clapping or crying at people opening boxes does not constitute entertainment,” they wrote.
A third viewer summed up their frustration with the show’s strategy element, writing: “Deal or No Deal. What a stupid show. ‘I have a plan’, no you don’t!”
The criticism is particularly notable because Deal or No Deal has remained one of the better-known formats associated with ITV, with the programme relying far more heavily on chance than general knowledge.
Bradley Walsh’s The Chase came out on top as the best show (Image: ITV)
Tipping Point comes a close second
While Deal or No Deal appeared to take the unwanted top spot, Tipping Point was repeatedly mentioned as another programme viewers found frustrating.
Ben Shephard’s quiz show combines general-knowledge questions with an arcade-style coin-pushing machine, meaning contestants need both correct answers and favourable results from the machine to build their prize total.
One Reddit user admitted that this was precisely what irritated them.
“Of what’s on now I find Tipping Point the most infuriating,” they wrote.
“A quiz show should reward knowledge and skill but one that is based on luck and something you can’t control like dropping a counter is baffling. That said, I do still watch it a lot.”
Another commenter grouped Tipping Point with The Wheel, arguing that people complaining about those shows had perhaps forgotten how much more divisive some game shows could be.
A third simply concluded: “Tipping Point comes a close second.”
Despite the criticism, the comments also made clear that some viewers continue to watch these programmes regularly, even when they find parts of the format frustrating.
The Chase wins plenty of praise
While viewers were happy to nominate their least favourite shows, The Chase received considerably warmer treatment.
Several commenters described the ITV favourite as one of the strongest quiz shows on television, with one viewer declaring the long-running programme “top banana”.
They praised its relatively straightforward structure compared with shows built around elaborate sets, gimmicks or elements of luck.
“It’s just a good show because it’s actually simple,” the viewer explained.
They pointed out that contestants answer questions to build their prize, face the Chaser in the multiple-choice round and then work together in the final chase.
For the commenter, the appeal lies in the fact that the outcome is primarily determined by answering questions correctly rather than relying on a physical prop or random event.
“No luck involved, no gimmick, just answering more questions right than the other guy,” they wrote.
The viewer also credited Bradley Walsh for much of the show’s appeal, describing the presenter as quick-witted enough to make the straightforward format entertaining.
Classic game shows remain favourites
The discussion also revealed that some of Britain’s older game shows continue to enjoy a strong reputation among viewers.
One commenter described Family Fortunes, Catchphrase and Bullseye as “untouchable”, placing them among the evergreen favourites of British television.
They also singled out The Chase as the standout newer addition to the genre.
The Reddit discussion ultimately highlights the very different reasons viewers watch quiz and game shows. Some prefer programmes that test knowledge and skill, while others enjoy the suspense created by luck, strategy and unpredictable outcomes.
For those who took part in the debate, however, one title repeatedly stood out when it came to the question of Britain’s “worst” quiz or game show: Deal or No Deal.