Viewers of The Chase were left in dismay after a contestant got tangled in a controversial moment that sparked an outrage.
Since 2009, the popular ITV quiz show has featured Bradley Walsh guiding hopeful contestants as they pit their wits against a Chaser, with their eyes on the prize pot. During Wednesday's episode, audiences were engrossed as four competitors challenged Shaun aka the Dark Destroyer Wallace in a battle of brains for cash.
Controversy struck after fans believed one player had an answer unjustly discredited, causing an uproar amongst the online community. In a tense moment, young contender Max, aged 20, was deep into his cash builder round when Bradley quizzed: "Lebron James is one of the so-called playmakers for what console brand? " Max snapped back with "PS4", only to be taken aback as his answer was rejected as they were looking for 'Playstation'.
Given that PS4 stands for Playstation 4, crafted by tech giant Sony, fans were bewildered by the decision. Fuelled by disbelief, audiences vented their frustrations on social media decrying the strict adjudication.
A disgruntled viewer posted on X: "I was waiting for them to allow that! PS4 is PlayStation," while another aired: "PS4 is PlayStation," reports the Mirror.
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Another agitated fan argued: "Surely you'd accept PS4?" As someone else lamented: "Another answer robbed! PS is Playstation."
But some viewers were quick to justify Max's quiz downfall, noting that the query was about a brand, not a model. One viewer communicated their opinion plainly: "Complaints about the PlayStation question, Bradley asked For BRAND, NOT A SPECIFIC CONSOLE! He shouldn't have got through!"
Another person echoed this sentiment, stating firmly: "But it's a standalone console, not a console brand."
He continued reminiscing: "When they got a question wrong I really gave it to them, and everyone was laughing. That's when I knew we had something.
"Normally with a quiz show you're handcuffed to the format, but this meant I could go off script and improvise. It was like doing stand-up in the middle of a quiz show, which I loved. So right from that very first run-through I thought this could be special."
In recent chats, host Bradley Walsh disclosed when he intends to bow out from presenting 'The Chase,' a fan-favourite which has graced our screens for 15 terrific years. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Walsh commented: "Until people say they've had enough and start switching off I'll do it. We've had such an extraordinary time together. It's the best job in the world."
The seasoned presenter additionally shared his insights into the show's potential during its inception. Recollecting memories, he said: "The audience was made up of ITV bosses and they found someone in the office to be a contestant. Straight away I took the contestant's side. I saw the Chasers as these big, all-knowing, bully types, so I started taking the mickey out of them."
The Chase airs weekdays on ITV1, from 5pm.
