The Chase star points out major issue ‘ruining’ rival ITV gameshow

Mark Labbett has taken a swipe at a rival ITV gameshow (Picture: ITV/The Chase)

A major star of The Chase has taken a big swipe at a rival ITV gameshow after claiming that a surprise was ‘ruined’ at the end of an episode.

Mark Labbett, better known as The Beast, has been part of The Chase’s iconic line-up of quiz masterminds ever since its inception 16 years ago.

ITV recently drafted in Doctor Who star David Tennant to present Genius Game, a brand new quiz show going out on Wednesday evenings.

The gameshow involves contestants initially working together but eventually being forced to put themselves first in a bid to win a cash prize.

However, watching on at home, Mark criticised the editing on the new show, claiming that big reveals are already obvious to viewers before they’re made.

On X, he said that the editing on the show is ‘ruining the play-along factor,’ finishing up his message with a sad-faced emoji to drive home his disappointment.

David Tennant hosts the Genius Game on Wednesdays (Picture: ITV)

His comments about the show then appeared to be backed up by a contestant who was on the very episode he was watching – Rebecca, 37, from Huddersfield.

Posting from an account that seems to belong to Rebecca, with the name @RebeccaKellett, she concurred with Mark’s thoughts, adding: ‘Totally agree’.

When @ShawnCBrown said, ‘The editing of this show is awful. We know the Red Team has won now – there’s no jeopardy,’ the same @RebeccaKellett account said: ‘I know! I wish they’d held off telling us white had lost.’

Contestant Bex agreed with Mark’s critical comments (Picture: ITV) She agreed the editing revealed a major result too early (Picture: ITV)

Eagle-eyed fans who watch quiz shows almost every day of the week also spotted West Yorkshire native Rebecca on an episode of The Finish Line this week.

@BCFCBradz, who had been watching Genius Game, took a photo of his TV when he spotted Rebecca – going by ‘Bex’ on TV – on The Finish Line.

He tweeted, ‘Bex from Genius Game popping up on daytime TV quiz shows,’ tagging ITV in his message in a bid to bring it to their attention.

@Millardy73 also commented: ‘I see Bex from ITV’s Genius Game (yes I am still watching it but only for David Tennant) is a bit of a sneaky gamer. Now appearing on The Finish Line. But… which came first!?’

Genius Game hasn’t had the easiest of beginnings (Picture: ITV)

The gameshow contestant responded to those tweets too, explaining that she recorded her slot on The Finish Line way before Genius Game.

‘The Finish Line came way first. I also did The Chase but I actually won that one,’ she said.

@BryonyBowes wondered ‘if the Genius Game and The Finish Line studios are just next door to each other’ after spotting Rebecca twice. Entrepreneur Rebecca explained: ‘This is so awkward. They were filmed so far apart.’

@CagSib5 asked her ‘Did you just apply for a load of TV programs one day?’ to which Rebecca reiterated that that wasn’t the case: ‘They were filmed ages apart.’

In response to @ShawnCBrown, who criticised the editing on Genius Game, Rebecca responded: ‘I know! I wish they’d held off telling us [who] had lost.’

Mark’s has been live-tweeting episodes of Genius Game (Picture: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Getty)

In a post on Instagram under the handle @northernblondeabroad, she wrote about her stint on the gameshow, saying: ‘As most of you know I have always been a fan of escape rooms, trivia and problem-solving, so to be part of a show where brains, strategy and fun collide is a dream come true!’

Mark’s critical comments about Genius Game come just weeks after it was branded ‘the most expensive flop’ that ITV had suffered in several years.

In the aftermath of the first few episodes, it was quickly rumoured that the muted reception from viewers had resulted in an urgent scheduling change from ITV.

Only 1.2 million viewers tuned in for the first episode (via Broadcast Now), significantly behind Race Across the World, which pulled in 3.1 million in the same timeslot over on BBC One.

ITV then confirmed that Genius Game would air only on Wednesdays over the next seven weeks, with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? celebrity specials taking the Thursday, May 8 slot.

Catch up with Genius Game on ITVX, watch The Finish Line on BBC iPlayer.

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