‘Stop Taking Low Offers!’: Viewers Slam Format After Contestants Leave Empty-Handed on The Chase

Bradley Walsh introduced four hopeful contestants—Fran from London, Lynsey from Truro, Donald from Edinburgh, and Josh from Mill Hill—on Tuesday night’s episode of The Chase (November 26). Together, they aimed to beat the formidable Anne Hegerty, known as “The Governess,” and walk away with a hefty cash prize. Instead, the team left with nothing, sparking frustration among viewers over a recurring issue with the show’s format.

The episode began with high hopes as the contestants faced the cash builder and head-to-head rounds. Fran and Lynsey successfully made it back to the final chase, contributing £7,000 to the prize pot. However, Donald was eliminated after being caught by Anne, and then Josh made a controversial decision that angered fans, according to the Express.

Josh performed well during his cash builder round, securing £5,000. But when it came to his turn against Anne, he opted for the low offer of minus £1,000. While this decision gave the team a better chance of survival, it reduced the overall prize pool and ignited a wave of criticism online.

Fans of the show took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their displeasure with Josh’s choice and to call for changes to the game’s rules. One frustrated viewer wrote: “FFS. It’s just getting boring now. Shake the episodes up @ITV so it’s not the same every day as it’s getting to the stage where it’s not exactly exciting to watch. Time to switch over [yawn emoji] #TheChase.”

Another added: “Make it so each player wins what they put in the pot. If you take a minus, you win nothing!! Stop taking low offers!! #TheChase.”

A third viewer didn’t hold back, tweeting: “#thechase @ITVChase Time to cancel the show for good after this series. This consistent lower offer taking is absolutely disgusting, embarrassing, and shameful and is completely destroying the show.”

Despite their best efforts, Fran and Lynsey were unable to outpace Anne in the final chase, leaving the team empty-handed. The episode reignited a long-standing debate among fans about the fairness of allowing contestants to accept low offers, with many calling for a revamp to keep the show fresh and engaging.

While The Chase remains a popular staple of ITV’s programming, the backlash suggests that some viewers feel it’s time for the format to evolve.