The Chase viewers were left questioning whether one of the show’s most dramatic moments was simply a remarkable coincidence after a tense head-to-head between a contestant and Paul Sinha unfolded in a way that seemed almost too perfect.
The Wednesday night episode, which aired on December 11, featured four contestants taking on Paul Sinha, better known as “The Sinnerman.” But it was Adrian, a confident contestant from Oldham, who quickly became the centre of attention after deciding to risk everything on the show’s £40,000 high offer.
What followed left Bradley Walsh stunned and prompted a wave of accusations from viewers on social media.
Adrian takes a huge gamble
Adrian got off to a strong start, building an impressive £7,000 during his Cash Builder.
With the opportunity to play for a higher amount, he decided against taking the safer options and instead accepted the £40,000 challenge.
The decision immediately raised the tension in the studio.
During the head-to-head, Adrian stumbled on one of the questions. Bradley, clearly aware of the pressure building around the contestant, turned to the rest of the team and asked whether they thought the Chaser would get the question wrong.
Then came the twist.
© ITVPaul Sinha on this week’s episode of The Chase
Paul Sinha gets the answer wrong
To the surprise of everyone in the studio, Paul also answered the question incorrectly.
The mistake meant Adrian was able to remain in the game and continue his attempt to bring the £40,000 back to his team.
But the drama didn’t end there.
Shortly afterwards, Adrian made another error on what appeared to be a relatively straightforward question.
Once again, Paul failed to answer it correctly.
The extraordinary sequence left Adrian safe for a second time and had viewers wondering whether they had just witnessed an unlikely coincidence or something more deliberate.
Bradley’s earlier question about whether Paul would get the answer wrong only made the moment appear even more suspicious to some fans.
Bradley Walsh on The Chase
Viewers accuse the show of being “scripted”
Social media quickly filled with reactions from viewers who were convinced the sequence had looked staged.
One viewer bluntly wrote: “What a fix this is.”
Another claimed: “That was 100% scripted, asking if the Chaser will get it wrong, and then he does. Classic ITV!”
A third viewer questioned how the same situation could happen twice, writing: “Why did that feel so scripted? No way The Sinnerman gets that wrong twice in a row.”
There was no evidence presented in the episode that the game had been scripted, but the unusual sequence was enough to fuel speculation among some viewers.
Despite the doubts raised online, Adrian successfully made it through the round and brought his winnings back to the team.
© ITVFans of The Chase took to social media this week
Another controversial decision causes outrage
The episode featured another moment that divided the audience when contestant Ben stepped up to play.
After managing just £2,000 in his Cash Builder, Ben was presented with the choice of offers and opted to accept the lower offer of minus £7,000.
His decision immediately reduced the team’s potential total to £39,000.
Some viewers were furious with the move, particularly because the other contestants had worked to build up the prize fund.
One angry fan wrote: “He shouldn’t be allowed any money. I’d be furious if he was on my team!”
However, Ben’s gamble ultimately paid off.
He managed to survive the head-to-head and return to the team for the Final Chase.
© ITVBradley Walsh on the recent episode of The Chase
Even The Sinnerman backed Ben’s strategy
Despite the criticism from viewers, Paul Sinha appeared to understand why Ben had made the decision.
The Chaser reassured him: “It’s a tactical game—you’re fine.”
That moment offered a different perspective on Ben’s controversial choice. Although accepting the minus offer had reduced the team’s total, he had succeeded in getting past the Chaser and remained in contention for the final.
Ultimately, however, the team’s efforts were not enough.
The contestants reached the Final Chase but were unable to defeat Paul, meaning they ultimately went home without the prize.
© Matt Frost / ITVFans were calling this week’s episode of The Chase “fixed”
The Chase continues to divide viewers
The latest controversy is far from the first time The Chase has prompted viewers to question whether certain moments seem too perfectly timed.
The show’s format naturally creates dramatic twists, particularly when contestants and Chasers repeatedly encounter the same questions. Those moments can lead to strong reactions from audiences, especially when a mistake dramatically changes the outcome of a round.
© ITVBradley Walsh with The Chasers: Shaun Wallace, Paul Sinha, Anne Hegerty, Jenny Ryan, Darragh Ennis and Mark Labbett
In this case, Paul’s two incorrect answers allowed Adrian to survive after Bradley had specifically asked whether the Chaser might get one wrong.
For some viewers, that was simply an extraordinary moment in a high-pressure quiz show. For others, it was enough to raise questions about whether the game had been “fixed.”
Whatever viewers made of the controversy, Bradley Walsh’s quick reactions and the unexpected twists ensured that the episode generated plenty of discussion beyond the studio.
The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV1.