ITV’s Beat the Chasers stirred controversy during Thursday night’s episode 

when viewers criticized the show for posing a seemingly unfair opening question to a contestant. 

The question not only stumped the player but also left the host, Bradley Walsh, baffled, sparking a wave of frustration among fans online.

A Challenging Start for Contestant Ray

Contestant Ray stepped up to face the formidable lineup of Chasers—Mark Labbett, Shaun Wallace, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan, and Darragh Ennis—hoping to secure a cash prize. 

However, his journey took an unexpected turn when the first question proved to be anything but straightforward.

Host Bradley Walsh read aloud the question:

“In 1894, Queen Victoria bought an oil painting by Daniel Mytens of ‘Charles I and Henrietta Maria Departing for…’ what?”

Immediately after asking, even Walsh couldn’t hide his disbelief, exclaiming, “What is that for a first question?!” He then presented Ray with three possible answers: The Chase, The Apprentice, and The Twilight Zone.

A Guess That Missed the Mark

Unfamiliar with the question, Ray confessed, “I haven’t got a clue,” before making a guess and selecting The Twilight Zone. Unfortunately, his answer was incorrect, as the correct response was The Chase.

Bradley expressed his sympathy, telling Ray, “Oh Ray. I am so sorry, mate.”

Fans React Online

The unexpected difficulty of the question didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, who took to social media to express their outrage. Many felt the question was unfair as a starting point, with some calling it unnecessarily harsh.

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “That was an awful first question. I don’t understand why they broadcast the people that get the first question wrong and can’t play on. If that were me, I definitely wouldn’t want to be on TV!”

Another added, “I can’t believe they gave him that question for his first question.”

Others shared similar sentiments:

“What a bloody ridiculous first question.”

“Getting that as the 1st question seemed a bit harsh.”

“#BeattheChasers—it’s a weird first question.”

Many rallied behind Ray, with one fan tweeting, “Justice for Ray! That was a crap first question.” Another chimed in, “WTF was that first question? Give Ray another go!”

A Tale of Two Contestants

While Ray’s time on the show ended abruptly, the first contestant of the night, Daniel, enjoyed a far more triumphant experience. He managed to outwit the Chasers and secured a staggering £30,000 prize, beating them with 40 seconds to spare.

Even Mark Labbett, known as “The Beast,” acknowledged Daniel’s remarkable performance, writing on his X account, “I think that is only the second time the Chasers have been beaten despite playing perfectly. A time offer of less than 40 seconds is huge!”

Mixed Reactions to the Show’s Format

The stark contrast between Ray’s quick exit and Daniel’s victory highlighted the unpredictability of the game. While some viewers celebrated Daniel’s win, others questioned the fairness of a format where a single challenging question could prematurely end a contestant’s journey.

Conclusion

Beat the Chasers has long been praised for its unique twist on traditional quiz shows, but moments like this serve as a reminder of how polarizing its format can be. Ray’s experience struck a chord with many viewers, reigniting debates about the show’s question selection process.

As the series continues, fans will be watching closely, hoping for a fairer playing field for future contestants. For now, though, the conversation surrounding Ray’s opening question remains a hot topic among loyal fans of the show.

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