COST-CUTTING ITV chiefs is not going to make any new episodes of quiz present The Chase for at the least a yr.
It means host Bradley Walsh can be obtainable to current Strictly Come Dancing — a task he has been closely tipped for.
But it additionally means the programme’s roster of Chasers, such as Mark “The Beast” Labbett and Anne “The Governess” Hegerty, can be out of pocket as they’re paid for every present they seem in.
ITV bosses plan to display screen repeats of the present, which has been going for 17 years. A supply mentioned: “Everyone discovered just a few weeks in the past and other people on set have been very miffed and upset as they’ll be out of pocket.
“It’s been fairly a shock and really disappointing.
“Many crew members really feel nervous and scared for the long run throughout an unsure time in TV.
“It’s a deeply unsettling time financially for everybody concerned in The Chase. Surely loyal viewers will discover too, in the event that they’re being fed repeat episodes.
“It’s a shame as the show has survived for 17 years and remains one of the most popular quiz shows on telly. It’s won countless awards and is much loved.”
Usually round 120 episodes are made a yr in three separate stints of round two months every.
The newest batch completed filming at Elstree Studios, Herts, on Friday.
But there are not any plans to film any extra in June or October and at the least till subsequent April, and ITV didn’t verify when it would resume.
An ITV spokeswoman mentioned: “The Chase has simply completed recording sequence 19, which completes its recording schedule for this yr.
“ITV will proceed to air The Chase as standard, with a mixture of recent and repeat episodes throughout the yr. With greater than 2.5million viewers per present, The Chase stays one of many nation’s most liked quiz reveals.
“There is also new Beat the Chasers for 2026 and a brand new spin off series, The Chase Around the World, coming soon.”
Presenter Walsh, 65, is known to have his own deal with ITV, which isn’t primarily based on appearances.
In November he set tongues wagging when he visited the Strictly set at Elstree, showing on social media in an image with the present’s chief dressmaker Theresa Hewlett.
But the Chasers, who additionally embrace Shaun “The Dark Destroyer” Wallace, Paul “The Sinnerman” Sinha, Jenny “The Vixen” Ryan and Darragh “The Menace” Ennis, can be hit financially.
However, they’ve all executed very properly since becoming a member of the sequence. Anne, who boasts an estimated fortune of £3.2million, revealed final yr that she hoped bosses would maintain the present pool of six chasers so it could not have an effect on their earnings.
She mentioned: “We are paid per present, so we’re not on a wage.
“A new Chaser would just mean the same number of shows shared between more people, so less money for everyone. So, hope not.”
She added: “I like my money sitting in my bank and representing a bit of security. I don’t see the point in sloshing money around. I’m not frugal, I’d actually say I’m mean.”
The Chasers earn extra cash for the spin-off sequence Beat The Chasers.
Mark, who’s estimated to have a personal fortune of £12.3million, mentioned final yr: “That’s the week we earn like Premier League footballers, so in fact I’ll do it.
“If I could get away with it, I’d purge half of them because the fewer Chasers there are, the more money I get.”
The resolution to pause manufacturing of The Chase, which airs at 5pm on weeknights, comes amid large cuts at ITV with daytime reveals and soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street affected.
However, ITV not too long ago posted pre-tax earnings of £534million. It additionally comes with the corporate in talks with Sky’s US proprietor Comcast over a possible £1.6billion takeover.
Media finance skilled Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at funding platform AJ Bell, mentioned he can perceive why ITV feels it will probably reduce prices and nonetheless maintain The Chase operating in its schedule.
He mentioned: “The Chase is one among ITV’s largest daytime programmes and a constant winner for the broadcaster. First aired in 2009, it’s turn out to be a staple fixture on British TV and audiences adore it.
“ITV has 17 years’ value of quiz present content material that arguably received’t have dated an excessive amount of, therefore the thought of simply relying on re-runs means it will probably maintain broadcasting episodes with none new manufacturing prices.
“Lots of people received’t even discover.
“Advertisers will focus on viewer numbers and reaching the appropriate demographic, and so they would possibly really feel re-runs of The Chase are nonetheless an excellent place to advertise their services if there are sufficient eyeballs.
“Broadcasters are under pressure to watch every penny so it’s no surprise to see ITV go down this path. It won’t work for all types of shows, but quizzes certainly hit the right button.”
