The Chase has once again being accused of being fixed by angry viewers
There were shocking scenes on The Chase last night when Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett appeared to answer a question after his two-minutes ran out, to deny contestants on the show a £30,000 prize pot.
Bradley Walsh played the role of Earl Hebner, as Labbett locked in the sharpshooter and answered “Switzerland” to the question “Watchmaker Longines was founded in which country?”, in what can only be described as the worst televised screwjob in over two decades.
A breathless Bradley replied: “Yes! Just in time. Switzerland. A split second, caught. I tell you what guys, it doesn’t get any closer than that.”
The Beast – presumably riddled with guilt – then told the team they “deserved” to win. He said: “You didn’t deserve to lose, I’m really sorry guys. You were superb.”
But given they didn’t win, viewers were quick to go in on the show for denying the contestants the money.
One tweeted: “100% CHASER LOST!!!! #TheChase what a fix!!!! £30k !!!!! WENT ZERO before the answer [sic].”
Another added: “How wrong today, the beast hadn’t finished answering the question yet they let hime have it? When Bradley is asking questions if they haven’t finished answering before the time runs out there not given it!! What a fix [sic].”
A third said: “#TheChase is a fix!!! The countdown was over but apparently he got the answer on time! If it was the other way around the guests wouldn’t have been in time. #ITV sort it out.”
Watch the final moment and judge for yourself here:
Just watching #thechase I think that’s a bit unfair – I don’t think he was in time! pic.twitter.com/vKXasMuV8f
— Sinny (@sinnysully) October 28, 2018
This isn’t the first time the show has been accused of being ‘fixed’ against quizzers, with Labbett having previously discussed he number of stitch-up accusations the show has previously received during interviews.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Labbett previously said: “I have never thrown a question, let alone a show and would happily be strapped up to one of Jeremy Kyle’s lie detectors.”
“Social media is great for people’s immediate gut reactions but not for a more considered opinion. My guess is that people get caught up in the excitement of the final chase and it boils over.”
