We all love watching quiz shows like The Chase, cheering on contestants as they try to outwit the Chasers.
But what actually goes on behind the scenes? Turns out, there’s a whole lot more to the game than just answering questions — from money rules to casting quirks and fairness checks, the show’s inner workings are just as fascinating as the trivia.
Why Contestants Are Told Not to Share Winnings
Steven Sneade, 69, from Liverpool, who appeared on The Chase back in 2017, shared some surprising advice contestants get after the show.
Steven made it to the final and took home a large cash prize — but not everyone on his team was so lucky.
After winning, he was told to sign another contract to officially accept the prize money.
But he also recalled being warned against sharing any of it with teammates who didn’t win. “They told us not to give money to the ones who didn’t win, even if you feel bad for them,” Steven said.
“They can’t stop you, but they don’t want you to feel like you should. It’s more of a moral nudge.”
And while ITV said prize money could take up to three months to arrive, Steven got his within a week.
You Can’t Just Jump from One Game Show to Another
Steven also revealed that appearing on another ITV show too soon can disqualify you from getting on The Chase.
After appearing on Tipping Point, he had to wait almost two years before producers would consider him again.
“They asked me if I’d been on any other shows,” Steven said. “I told them about Tipping Point, and they said they’d reach out next year.”
Apparently, ITV doesn’t want the same contestants appearing on multiple shows in quick succession because of audience backlash.
The Chase Has Been Going Strong for Years
Since it first hit screens in 2009, The Chase has aired over 2,500 episodes across 18 seasons.
The format is simple but addictive: a team of contestants tries to beat one of the Chasers — like Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Shaun Wallace, Jenny Ryan, Darragh Ennis, or Paul Sinha — in a head-to-head trivia battle.
But as polished as it looks on TV, fans still have questions about whether it’s all as fair as it seems.
The Bradley Walsh Question Speed Debate
One of the most popular complaints among fans has been about host Bradley Walsh’s speed during the Final Chase.
Some think he reads the Chaser’s questions much faster than the contestants’.
A Reddit user recently asked, “Why is Bradley allowed to read the questions so much more quickly for the Chaser? Seems unfair.”
But a former contestant was quick to shut that down. “Everything is fair,” they said.
“Experienced quizzers can often guess the question before it’s finished — that’s their edge.”
Fairness Is Taken Very Seriously
To make sure the show stays fair, there’s actually an independent adjudicator on set.
One contestant shared that during their taping, the adjudicator stepped in when an answer was marked wrong — even though the players didn’t protest.
“They had us reshoot that bit and accepted the answer,” they explained.
“They were crystal clear about keeping everything fair.
It mattered to them.”
Another fan chimed in to say the idea that the game is rigged is “one of the biggest myths” about the show.
“There are people there specifically to make sure the rules are followed, or ITV could land in serious trouble with the regulator.”
