Is the Chase rigged?
Executive summary
Accusations that ITV’s quiz show The Chase is “rigged” recur regularly after episodes where viewers judge the chaser’s questions unusually easy or a contestant loses in the final seconds; multiple recent examples and audience reactions are documented [1] [2] [3]. The programme and its defenders have repeatedly responded — noting timing/clock explanations and that the production and independent adjudication stand behind results — but viewers continue to point to patterns like easier questions for chasers, faster delivery, and chasers’ employment by the show as reasons for suspicion [4] [5] [6].
1. Why viewers say “rigged”: instant social-media outrage
Every high‑profile loss on The Chase produces a wave of social posts accusing the show of fixing outcomes, usually triggered by two motifs: (a) a chaser getting a string of apparently “easy” questions in the final chase or hitting the last correct answer in dramatic fashion and (b) split‑second timing that lets a chaser win instead of the contestants. Coverage of episodes from 2023 through 2025 shows repeated claims along these lines after losses worth £75k–£100k and after Jenny Ryan and Mark Labbett answered questions viewers called “child‑easy” [3] [2] [1].
2. What the show and defenders say in response
ITV and The Chase have replied when criticism spikes. In at least one earlier dispute the producers explained that apparent extra time was an illusion — the chaser had already given the correct answer and the clock had been stopped — and defended the outcome [4]. Sources show the production, chasers and an independent adjudicator have publicly denied fixes when accusations arise [5].
3. Common viewer grievances and the anatomy of the complaint
Online complainants point to a handful of repeat observations: chasers seem to receive simpler questions during the final chase; host Bradley Walsh is alleged to quicken the pace when addressing chasers; chasers sit with responder buttons and sometimes appear to answer exceptionally fast; and because chasers are salaried employees, viewers see an inherent conflict that could bias question selection or presentation [5] [6] [3]. These recurring themes are visible across tabloids, online outlets and regional press [7] [6] [8].
4. Evidence in the public record: pattern or perception?
Available reporting documents many episodes where viewers perceived a pattern — e.g., Jenny Ryan’s high win rate noted by press, and multiple cases where chasers answered rapidly and contestants lost in the final seconds [2] [3]. But the sources provided do not include independent statistical audits of question difficulty, nor do they present behind‑the‑scenes logs or adjudicator reports that would quantify whether chaser questions are systematically easier. Therefore: claims of systemic rigging are grounded in repeated viewer perception and anecdote, but the supplied reporting does not contain conclusive, independently verified proof of deliberate fixing [1] [3] [5].
5. Alternative explanations offered in reporting
Reporters and some viewers offer non‑conspiratorial explanations: the host’s pacing can change in live reads and envelopes (Set A/Set B) determine which questions contestants face, and clock mechanics can create the impression of extra time for a chaser when the stop‑clock is involved [4] [6]. Several articles record voices pushing back against the “rigged” narrative, noting production processes and the presence of an independent adjudicator [6] [4].
6. Motives, incentives and why suspicions stick
Tabloid coverage, viewer outrage, and social virality all reward a “rigged” storyline: outraged posts spread quickly, and high stakes (tens of thousands of pounds) make losses newsworthy [3] [2]. The chasers’ fame and frequent wins (Jenny Ryan’s high win percentage is noted) intensify the story because viewers expect impartiality in a prize show; when expectations clash with dramatic endings, accusations flourish online [2].
7. How to evaluate future claims
A more definitive assessment would require access to primary materials not in the current reporting: full question banks, timing logs, adjudicator reports and an independent statistical analysis comparing question difficulty across contestant and chaser rounds. Those items are not present in the supplied sources, so current reporting can document patterns of viewer suspicion and official denials but cannot, by itself, prove systemic rigging [5] [4].
8. Bottom line for viewers
The supplied coverage shows repeated, legitimate viewer suspicion after certain episodes and public denials from the show’s side [1] [4]. The public record here documents perception, anecdote and producer rebuttals but does not include independent, transparent auditing data to decisively confirm or refute a claim that The Chase is rigged [5] [4].