The Chase: ‘The Beast’ Mark Labbett sheds light on show ‘fix’ claims

Viewers have dubbed ITV’s popular game show, The Chase, a “fix” on numerous occasions, but now Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett has addressed the rumours, offering to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.

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The 51-year-old quizmaster stars alongside Shaun Wallace, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha and Jenny Ryan as a “chaser”, whose job it is to prevent the show’s contestants from winning the cash prize.

Sometimes, however, the professional quizzers fail to ace the chase, meaning each member of the winning team receives an equal share of the prize fund, but fans have once again blasted the chasers for deliberately “throwing the game.”

Now Mark, who has featured on the teatime quiz since its inception eight years ago, has spoken out against the claims – suggesting the chasers “allow contestants to win the prize money” – to support the show.

Defending the long-running series and insisting the gameplay is genuine, the star even offered to take a Jeremy Kyle-style lie detector test to prove that The Chase is above board.

“I have never thrown a question, let alone a show and would happily be strapped up to one of Jeremy Kyle’s lie detectors,” Mark told The Express.

“Social media is great for people’s immediate gut reactions but not for a more considered opinion,” he added. “My guess is that people get caught up in the excitement of the final chase and it boils over.”

He concluded: “We are a much loved family show which people care passionately about, so understandably emotions run high sometimes both on set and watching at home, especially in the last few seconds.”

Last year, viewers accused the show of giving chaser Mark Labbett an advantage with an extra second of time when a clock appeared to freeze (video below), but producers later claimed it was simply an editing error.

The Chase continues weekdays on ITV at 5pm.