When Will The Chase End And Who Will Be The First Chaser To Leave?
The Chase has been a British TV staple for years, amassing more than 2,000 episodes, but could the ITV quiz show be approaching its final round?
After 17 regular series and 13 celebrity series, not to mention spin-offs galore - including the popular Beat the Chasers - there are some concerns for the programme, resulting in speculation on betting sites that the show could end within the next couple of years.
Final Chase?
Chaser Anne Hegerty has admitted she is "worried" about the series being axed, after admitting they are making "fewer" episodes.
In an honest chat with the Daily Star newspaper, the Governess recently admitted ITV have "less money from adverts" nowadays because the streaming services are now flexing their muscles in the ad game.
But Anne can't bear to think about life without The Chase.
She told the publication: "Things are so tough that quite a few shows are being axed.
"Obviously, one is always a little bit worried and one is always glad to hear there will be more episodes.
When Will The Chase End Odds
Year | Odds | Probability |
2025 | 6/4 | 40% |
2026 | 2/1 | 33.3% |
2027 | 5/1 | 16.7% |
2028 Or Later | 8/1 | 11.1% |
"I don’t want to imagine life without The Chase. But we are doing better than most shows. It does the business in the ratings. So many people watch it."
Anne's comments, combined with recent speculation that her fellow Chaser Shaun Wallace had been sacked from the show - which the Dark Destroyer has denied - has sparked speculation on specials betting sites that The Chase might not have too many questions left to be answered.
While Anne has confirmed there are "plans for next year", it's not yet known whether The Chase will continue after that.
The show, which has run for 15 years, is just 6/4 to come to an end in 2025.
Holding On
The Chase super-fans and Chasers alike will no doubt be desperate to see the show continue for a while yet.
But Anne is right about shows being axed of late.
Just this year, there have reports that programmes including ITV series Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow, Channel 5's Puzzling, and BBC trio Sitting on a Fortune, Unbeatable and Moneyball have been shelved, or at least rested.
While The Chase has become a popular daytime quiz show, such reports do not bode well for the programme.
It is just 8/1 on betting apps that the show can last until 2028 or later, while it's 2/1 second favourite for the programme to be defeated in 2026.
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Shaun To Go?
The Chase does still have many positives, such as its huge popularity and likability.
The likes of host Bradley Walsh and former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Anne - who has raised awareness about autism since shooting to fame - have huge followings.
And the programme is still winning awards, including scooping Best Game Show at this year's National Reality Television Awards just days ago.
While all good things must come to an end one day, at least one of the six chasers - Anne, Shaun, Mark Labbett, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis - could depart before that final episode.
Recently, Shaun, who has worked as a barrister since 1986, has had to play down speculation he has left the show after viewers took to social media to question his whereabouts.
The senior criminal defence advocate told The Hearing - A Legal Podcast: "If I've got a long trial, then that will take precedence over my filming, and The Chase know that. But I've then got to make up my other episodes later on in the series.
"So when people see me ... not seen me on TV for a long... 'Has he been sacked?' No, just back to my legal career."
Despite this, Shaun is the 8/11 favourite on new betting sites to be the first Chaser to leave the show - and he has previously admitted his time on The Chase "could all end tomorrow".
Who Will Be The First Chaser To Leave Odds
Chaser | Odds | Probability |
Shaun Wallace | 8/11 | 57.9% |
Darragh Ennis | Evens | 50% |
Anne Hegerty | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Paul Sinha | 3/1 | 25% |
Jenny Ryan | 4/1 | 20% |
Mark Labbett | 5/1 | 16.7% |
If that happens, it will mark a full circle moment for The Chase after Shaun was the original Chaser on the show in the pilot episode.
What's more, Darragh - whose nickname is The Menace - was the last Chaser to be brought onto the show, in 2020, after he was part of a winning team as a contestant in a 2017 episode.
He is Evens second favourite to be the first Chaser to leave the programme, which could be a case of last in, first out.
If The Chase does bow out in the next couple of years, it will have been a fantastic ride for Bradley and co, and the programme will no doubt be rebooted at some point down the line.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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