The Chase fans were left gobsmacked as competitors Karen and Ian scooped a jaw-dropping £100,000 prize, marking one of the highest wins in the history of the show. The duo went head-to-head with quiz expert Paul Sinha, also known as The Sinnerman, who has graced the ITV show as a chaser since 2011, bringing a wealth of knowledge from his background in medicine and comedy.
In a tense finale, host Bradley Walsh asked the pivotal question: “Lesley Manville played the widow Cathy in what BBC sitcom?”. Unfortunately, The Sinnerman’s response ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ missed the target, opening a glimmer of hope for Karen and Ian.
However, confusion took over and they didn’t secure the point. As time ran out despite Sinha’s attempts to recover, the duo emerged as winners, pocketing an incredible £100,000 between them.
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Both contestants were visibly shaken by their win, with Karen barely able to utter: “Oh my God! “. Bradley Walsh himself was taken aback, commenting on their narrow victory.
“That was close. Six attempts to push back, only two executed. The chaser needed one,” he said.
Karen and Ian were delighted with their win
(Image: (Image: ITV))
Ian and Karen’s remarkable game secured them one of the biggest payouts the show has ever seen, reports the Mirror. Reflecting on the 16-year history of The Chase, the largest win in 2023 saw three contestants share a £120,000 prize, each taking home £40,000 after outwitting chaser Mark Labbett.
Another standout moment was the final chase of 2018 when team members Gayna, Tim, Luca, and Diane split a substantial £100,000 pot. As for individual records, the most notable victory was when Eden, a 20 year old contestant, bagged a whopping £75,000. In a face-off with chaser Darragh Ennis, Eden secured an 18-step lead and claimed the biggest single-player win ever on the show.