Even some of ITV’s best-known quiz brains can be caught off guard — and Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty and Paul Sinha discovered that firsthand when they were left struggling over a seemingly simple question about The Lion King.
The trio, best known as the formidable Chasers on The Chase, were appearing as contestants on Tipping Point: Lucky Stars in a bid to win a substantial cash prize for charity.
But their confidence appeared to disappear when host Ben Shephard produced a question about one of Disney’s most recognisable characters.
The Lion King question that silenced The Chase stars
During the special episode, Ben asked: “In Disney’s The Lion King, what type of animal is the character Pumba?”
Rather than immediately firing back with an answer — something viewers have become accustomed to seeing from them on The Chase — the three quizzers were met with silence.
Ben quickly spotted the unusual moment and joked: “Ooo! Their Achilles’ heels!”
Mark, 51, then admitted he was unsure, offering two possibilities.
“It’s either a warthog or a meerkat but I can’t remember which one,” he said.
The correct answer, of course, was warthog.
Ben couldn’t resist highlighting the unusual victory over the normally intimidating quiz experts.
“It was a warthog. A tick to us for getting one that you didn’t know the answer to,” he joked, referring to the rivalry between the two ITV programmes.
Mark Labbett has the last laugh
Despite the unexpected stumble, the Chasers didn’t struggle throughout the rest of the competition.
Paul, 46, was particularly quick on the buzzer as the three demonstrated why they are among the most recognisable quiz personalities on British television.
Ultimately, however, it was Mark — better known to The Chase audience as The Beast — who emerged victorious.
His win earned him a £20,000 cash prize, which was destined for a charity that treats animals with cancer.
And Mark may have had Anne, 58, to thank for giving him an unexpected advantage.
Anne Hegerty accidentally helps Mark win
While playing the giant coin-pusher machine that forms the centrepiece of Tipping Point, Anne — known to The Chase viewers as The Governess — inadvertently left a number of coins in a potentially valuable position.
When it was Mark’s turn, those coins helped him collect more money.
Ben noticed what had happened and couldn’t resist making a cheeky observation.
“She’s left some danglers for you!” he told Mark and the others, prompting laughter from the studio audience.
When the joke drew attention, Ben defended himself by adding: “What? It’s factually correct!”
Mark then teased him: “I expect that kind of thing from Paul!”
But he immediately added: “Anne is a lady!”
Anne wasn’t prepared to let him have the final word, however, responding with a laugh: “No, I’m not!”
The Governess and The Sinnerman exit early
Although Mark ultimately took the top prize, Anne and Paul — also known as The Sinnerman — were eliminated earlier in the competition.
Both still walked away with the money they had accumulated during their time on the show.
Tipping Point combines general-knowledge questions with a giant arcade-style coin-pusher machine. Contestants answer questions to earn counters, which they then place into the machine in the hope of triggering a cascade of coins and increasing their prize money.
The appearance gave viewers an unusual opportunity to see three The Chase experts on the other side of the quiz table — and showed that even the most experienced quizzers can occasionally be defeated by a question about a familiar Disney classic.
The Chase airs weekdays on ITV at 5pm.