The new spin-off of The Chase, titled The Chase Around the World, premiered on ITV1 on Thursday (July 16) and has drawn mixed reactions from viewers, with many expressing disappointment and calling the format slow or staged.
Format and Premise
Hosted by Bradley Walsh, the six-part global quiz adventure sees the Chasers—including Mark 'The Beast' Labbett and Anne 'The Governess' Hegerty—leave the studio to challenge contestants on an epic road trip around the world. Six pairs of contestants are competing to win £100,000 by solving quiz questions, puzzles, and cryptic clues while navigating through iconic cities.
The first episode took place in Rome, where teams visited landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. Incorrect answers cost them time, and the last team to reach the finish line had to face the Beast and the Governess in a head-to-head showdown to stay in the game.
Viewer Reactions
Many viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their complaints. One user wrote: "It's a no from me." Another commented: "Not sure about this #chasearoundtheworld programme. The attraction of #thechase or #beatthechasers is that you can play along at home. Whilst you can do that in this too there's too much time in between questions and why would I wanna watch people running around Rome."
A third viewer said: "Making them backtrack to the last location if they've gone to the wrong one is - frankly - f****** needlessly stupid #TheChaseAroundTheWorld. Will stick to the original Chase and Race Across the World separately thanks." Another added: "This is so slow and as soon as the woman started crying over the first wrong answer then that's me out... had high hopes too but it just doesn't work!"
One viewer echoed: "Not digging this at all. I'll go another 10 minutes and gonna bin it off if it don't get better," while another shared: "I LOVE The Chase. But THIS is f****** abysmal. It's not even attempting to copy two BBC shows. And it's staged."
Positive Feedback
Despite the criticism, some viewers enjoyed the new format. One person wrote: "I know it's just started but I'm already loving it." Another said: "This looks good. Looking forward to this tonight," and a third commented: "I just finished watching and obviously lots will be starting so I won't spoil it. It was different, fun and still nail biting! Really enjoyed that!!"
Outcome of the First Episode
After a tiring journey across Rome, father and daughter duo Ashwin and Nikita were the last to reach Bradley, having made several detours earlier. However, they managed to beat Mark Labbett and Anne Hegerty in a timed race, allowing them to join the other pairs in the next city, Barcelona.
The Chase Around the World is available to stream on ITVX.
