The Chase viewers were left frustrated after an unusually one-sided episode saw all four contestants eliminated before the Final Chase — prompting some fans to question whether the show’s format needs a revamp.
Friday’s episode, hosted by Bradley Walsh, featured contestants Mark, Tan, Miriam and Jon as they attempted to build a team capable of taking on Chaser Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan.
But one by one, the contestants were caught before they could reach the Final Chase together.
The Chase fans complained about the latest episode
The Entire Team Is Knocked Out
Mark was the first contestant to face Ryan after building £6,000 in his Cash Builder round.
However, he was caught by The Vixen, leaving the remaining contestants to continue without him.
Tan was next, successfully building £7,000 before suffering the same fate.
Miriam then entered the chase after earning £5,000, but Ryan caught her too.
That left Jon as the final hope for the team.
Rather than playing for a lower offer, Jon decided to take on the Chaser for the show’s higher £80,000 prize.
The gamble did not pay off.
Ryan caught Jon as well, meaning all four contestants had been eliminated before the team could reach its Final Chase.
All four contestants on ITV’s The Chase were eliminated on Friday
The ‘Lazarus’ Twist
When every contestant is eliminated during the individual rounds, The Chase has a special rule that allows the team to nominate one player to return.
Known as the “Lazarus” contestant, the selected player gets another opportunity to face the Chaser and potentially reach the Final Chase alone.
On this occasion, the team selected one contestant to return, and he managed to reach 14 steps before once again coming up against Ryan.
Ultimately, The Vixen prevailed.
The contestant then faced a solo Final Chase with a reduced consolation pot of £1,000 per person — but Ryan secured the victory.
Viewers Demand a Revamp
The unusual episode prompted a wave of reactions on social media, with some viewers arguing that the format should be changed when an entire team is eliminated.
One viewer questioned whether the Chasers were being given easier questions, while another sarcastically described the episode as “enthralling.”
Others were considerably more critical.
“THIS IS A DISGRACE,” one viewer wrote, while another celebrated the end of the episode.
The Chase stars took to social media to criticise the format
Some viewers also criticised the contestants, with one simply commenting that they were getting worse.
Another viewer suggested that the programme was beginning to feel repetitive and called for either a break or a “revamp” of the format.
Others echoed the sentiment, with one telling ITV to “try harder.”
However, the reaction was far from unanimous.
Some viewers praised Jon for his performance and also congratulated Jenny Ryan, showing that the episode did have its supporters despite the criticism.
The debate comes as The Chase continues its long-running run on ITV, with Chaser Anne Hegerty recently discussing the show’s longevity and why she believes it remains popular with viewers.