by ITVs The hunt sparked controversy again when fans claimed the game was unfairly tilted in favor of Jenny Ryan, also known as The Vixen. Thursday’s (January 9) episode left viewers furious after a supposedly “easy” question during the final chase.
The episode featured four new contestants competing for a cash prize, with John and Tracy reaching the final round. Despite a strong effort of 17 correct answers, the duo was defeated with a lead of seven seconds.
The ‘cutlery’ controversy
During the tense final moments, host Bradley Walsh asked Jenny: “What term refers to knives, forks and spoons together?” Jenny quickly replied “cutlery,” bringing her closer to catching the team.
Viewers were outraged by the simplicity of the question, calling it unfair. One fan wrote on social media: “The strongest fighter who is rarely defeated is asked what the collective name is for knives, forks and spoons pfft.”
Another added: “Time is running out so bring up questions as simply as what cutlery is made of.” Others shared memes and captions like: “This game is rigged man.”
How the game unfolded
The episode started with high expectations as the contestants faced Jenny. The first was 19-year-old law student Anousha, who showed promise by answering six questions correctly in the cash builder. However, she was caught by Jenny and did not make it to the finals.
Hanish, 54, also performed well to earn £5,000 in the cash builder, but he too was eliminated before the final chase. This left John and Tracy pitted against Jenny with £12,000 on the line.
A close call
John and Tracy were impressed with their teamwork and set a respectable target of 17. Jenny got off to a shaky start, missing a few questions early on, but gained momentum as the round progressed.
The closing moments were nail-biting, with only one wrong answer separating the team from victory. Fans were hopeful when Jenny faltered, but the controversial question about ‘cutlery’ sealed her win.
Jenny’s reflection
After her win, Jenny recognized the importance of a full team in the final chase. She said: “Especially Anousha, she would have been really quick in that final and just picked up a few where you let the energy drop a bit.”
Her comments sparked further debate among fans, who claimed the team’s performance was strong enough to merit a win.
Social media response
Fans flooded social media with their complaints. One viewer wrote: “How is this even fair? The team gets asked tough questions and Jenny gets ‘cutlery’?” Another added: “It’s like they wanted her to win. So predictable.”
Despite the backlash, some defended Jenny, pointing to her impressive record as one of the show’s best chasers.
The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV and ITVX.
