ITV viewers tuning into The Chase were left unimpressed after realising the episode had previously aired two years ago. Fans took to social media to vent their frustration at being shown another repeat.
Viewers spot repeat episode
The episode, originally broadcast in 2024, saw Bradley Walsh return to host as contestants Spiro from Epsom, Brittany from Los Angeles, Louise from Cricklade and Tony from Carrickfergus competed for a prize pot worth thousands of pounds. The team aimed to reach the Final Chase, where they faced Jenny Ryan, known as The Vixen.
Eagle-eyed viewers quickly recognised the episode, with complaints flooding social media. One viewer fumed: “This ain't new. @ITV what you are playing at? #TheChase” Another wrote: “Not the advertised episode. This is a repeat. #thechase”
Mark Labbett responds to complaints
A third viewer simply posted: “Repeat. #thechase” Someone else said: “This is a repeat #TheChase” And another added: “The announcer just said, a brand new episode of the chase. Brad's Barnet will be the clue. #thechase”
The latest complaints come amid ongoing frustration from viewers over the number of repeats on ITV. Mark Labbett, known as The Beast, has previously addressed the scheduling issue. When a fan asked why ITV was holding back episodes, he explained that repeats were “becoming the norm”, with ITV facing budget cuts and producing less television.
ITV cost-cutting measures
He said: “If they weren’t showing repeats of The Chase, they would probably show repeats of something else.” Mark also noted that plenty of episodes are in the bank, meaning fans can expect new instalments to eventually air.
In 2025, ITV announced plans to postpone some programmes and introduce cost-cutting measures following a significant drop in advertising revenue. The broadcaster said the changes would save £20 million, while insisting that no much-loved shows or jobs would be affected. The Chase is available to stream on ITVX.
