The Chase fans fume ‘what is ITV playing at?’ as they spot clue in ‘brand new episode’
Viewers of The Chase were left fuming on Thursday evening after spotting what they believed was a giveaway sign that the episode billed as brand new was in fact a repeat from 2024.
Sharp-eyed fans took to social media almost immediately, pointing to Bradley Walsh’s hairstyle as the telltale indicator that the instalment had already been broadcast.
The episode in question featured four contestants: Spiro from Epsom, Brittany, originally from Los Angeles, Louise from Cricklade and Tony from Carrickfergus, who went up against Jenny Ryan, widely known as The Vixen, in the Final Chase.
Despite the ITV announcer introducing the programme as new, Mr Walsh’s appearance quickly aroused suspicion among regular viewers, triggering a wave of complaints online.
Many fans spotted a Bradley Walsh clue that gave away how old the episode was
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ITV
Frustration poured out across social media, with one viewer posting: “This ain’t new. @ITV what you are playing at? #TheChase”
Others echoed the sentiment, with another writing: “Not the advertised episode. This is a repeat. #thechase”
Several fans kept their reactions brief, simply confirming what many had already suspected. “Repeat. #thechase,” one posted, while another stated: “This is a repeat #TheChase.”
Perhaps most notably, one viewer appeared to have clocked the issue before the programme had even properly begun.
The Chase
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ITV
“The announcer just said a brand new episode of the chase. Brad’s Barnet will be the clue. #thechase,” they wrote, suggesting Mr Walsh’s haircut was an immediate red flag.
The backlash reflects a wider pattern of discontent among loyal viewers over the frequency of repeated episodes appearing on ITV’s schedule.
Mark Labbett, who appears on the show as The Beast, has previously addressed viewer complaints about the scheduling issue.
When a fan questioned why ITV seemed to be sitting on already-filmed episodes, Mr Labbett was candid in his response, acknowledging that repeats were “becoming the norm” as the broadcaster tightened its belt.
Mark Labbett acknowledged the repeats of ITV The Chase
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GB NEWS
He offered a pragmatic defence of the situation, stating: “If they weren’t showing repeats of The Chase, they would probably show repeats of something else.”
Mr Labbett has also suggested that a substantial backlog of pre-recorded episodes exists, ready for transmission.
This means that while fresh instalments have been filmed and are waiting in the wings, the decision over when they reach audiences ultimately rests with ITV’s scheduling team.
The repeat row comes against the backdrop of broader financial pressures at ITV.
Bradley Walsh’s hair was a give-away for some people
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ITVIn 2025, the broadcaster revealed plans to delay certain programmes and implement cost-reduction measures after experiencing a notable drop in advertising income.
ITV said the strategy was expected to deliver savings of £20 million. The company sought to reassure staff and audiences alike, maintaining that neither popular programmes nor jobs would be cut as a result of the changes.
Nevertheless, the impact on scheduling has been felt keenly by dedicated viewers of long-running shows such as The Chase, where the gap between filming and broadcast appears to have widened considerably.
Episodes of The Chase remain available to watch on the ITVX streaming platform.
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