Mark Labbett sets record straight on The Chase after fans flood show with complaints

Mark Labbett has spoken out after The Chase sparked a flurry of complaints from viewers.

During Friday's instalment (February 21) of the ITV quiz show, Bradley Walsh welcomed contestants Dylan, Jade, Rachel, and Tom, who took on Shaun Wallace.

In usual form, the contestants tested their knowledge in the cash builder round, with each correct answer worth £1,000. The players can then choose whether to stick with the cash they've earned, or take the chaser's high or low offer. 

In a surprising turn of events, all four players went for the low offer. Mark, who has been a chaser on the show since 2009, was commenting as he watched the episode from home. 

"I think this is the first time ever all four have gone low," he wrote on X. 

Fans were furious by the contestants taking the low offer, with one responding to Mark: "No point in going on the show. It makes it totally uninteresting Separate issue but the questions have become much harder than they used to be and that gives contestants less of a chance to win."

Another commented: "It pains me to say this, it’s the worst show I’ve ever seen, since I started watching the chase."

In another post, Mark pointed out the surge in contestants choosing the low offer, which is often taken tactically so all four players can make it back to the final chase.

He penned: "Low offers are up by about 50% but wins are down because a team that fails to make 17 is probably doomed."

The professional quizzer then questioned the producer's decision when it came to choosing the four contestants, writing: "With hindsight maybe the producers should have put a stronger player in the team."

He went on to say: "Bear in mind production team control nearly everything: teams, questions, offers, seat order… Brad and Chasers just have to perform as best as possible." 

Three out of the four players made it to the final chase and were playing for a total prize of just £3,000. Fans were rooting for chaser Shaun to catch the “undeserving” team, and applauded his victory after he caught their 15 point score with 8 seconds left on the clock.

The episode sparked outrage from viewers, who urged ITV to change the rules of the show to stop teams from all taking the low offer.

One viewer wrote: "The minus offer on The Chase should always be -5k minimum. That’ll stop the frauds from bottling it.”

Another fumed: "TheChase is turning into a farce. @ITV All 4 contestants going low is a new low. I wonder how many would go low if that's all they were allowed out of the pot if they won."

A third frustrated fan suggested: "They should ban low offers if two people have already taken it. Ridiculous!"