Latest news with #TheChase
Times
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Labour rival takes swipe over Sarkozy mishap on TV quiz
Nicolas Sarkozy proved to be a difficult figure to define for one Labour quiz contestant THIBAULT CAMUS/AP Barely a week into recess, it appears everyone is already bored and spending too much time on social media. That led to a spat on X between Mish Rahman, formerly a Labour national executive committee member, and Abdi Duale, a current one. It ended with Duale posting an old video of Rahman on the quiz show Head Hunters, answering the question 'Nicolas Sarkozy was president of which country?' with 'Russia'. He's not the only one to suffer a slip of memory under pressure. When one contestant on The Chase was asked which former UK prime minister had the middle name 'Hilda', she replied without hesitation: 'John Prescott.' You may have noticed that Margaret Thatcher's opinion of her immediate successor as prime minister wasn't always that complimentary. But Peter Just's new book, Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street, reveals that her dislike of John Major even affected her vocabulary. Campaigning in Dorset during the 1997 general election, Thatcher conducted an interview in which she referred to 'the major issues'. Stopping herself, she said: 'I used the word 'major',' before starting again with 'the main issues'. This self-imposed limitation must have been pretty tricky. If Major had retaliated it would only have affected discussions about rural tradesmen and cider. Celebrities store their awards in all kinds of places: a chicken coop, the bathroom, buried in the back garden. But James Cameron found a practical solution, using his Oscar as a doorstop. 'It's actually the best one to use, because it takes up the smallest footprint,' he tells Empire magazine. 'The fricking Saturn [awards] are too wide. You'd trip over 'em.' Some statues are known to develop a Toy Story-esque life of their own. Dame Helen Mirren once said: 'My theory is that my Screen Actors Guild award is having a very, very steamy affair with my Oscar. I catch them together and I swear to God that I haven't put them together. • How to get a body like Helen Mirren at 79 We reported on the auction of items from John Peel's record collection. Let's hope the discs' new owners will honour his memory by playing their purchases (if only once) at the wrong speed. Peel was known for doing this on his radio shows, although it was accidental: many of the records didn't have lyrics and their labels didn't always provide a clue. Playing Josh Wink's Higher State of Consciousness one evening, he commented: 'I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that sounded better when I played it the other night at the wrong speed.' Occasionally Peel would ring up the record company to inquire about a disc's correct speed. Sometimes they replied: 'To be honest we're not entirely sure ourselves.' Edinburgh Fringe kicks off this week but for the first time in 17 years there will be no funniest joke award. A sad affair considering past winners have included Tim Vine ('I decided to sell my Hoover … well it was just collecting dust), Lorna Rose Treen ('I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah') and, a personal favourite, Darren Walsh ('I just deleted all the German names off my phone. It's Hans free').
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Chase's Darragh Ennis shares natural method to eliminate pesky house flies
The Chase's Darragh Ennis, also known as The Menace on the ITV quiz show, has a genius hack for keeping flies out of your home - and it's all natural and costs just £12 You could ward off flies this summer with a "brilliant" tip shared by The Chase star Darragh Ennis. As an entomologist, Darragh has a clever method to eliminate the insects from your home, especially if you have houseplants that draw them in. In a recent TikTok video, the 44-year-old TV personality, also known as The Menace on the ITV quiz show, shared a straightforward and natural approach to tackle the small black flies that can prove troublesome during the summer months. These pests, called fungus gnats, can be "really hard" to eradicate and frequently inhabit houseplants, creating annoyance and prompting many people to abandon their plants entirely. Darragh said in his video: "If you've got little insects flying around your house, it can be really annoying. "Now, I'm an entomologist, so I love insects, but I still don't want those tiny little black flies all over my house, and they're really hard to get rid of - especially when they live in your houseplants. "They're called fungus gnats because they live in compost and stuff, and they're a big pest in mushroom growhouses and things. Getting rid of them with chemicals is really hard." Darragh recommends a strategy to maintain your houseplants whilst banishing the flies at the same time - utilising nematodes. He explained: "You've probably never heard of them, but they're little microscopic worms that live in the soil. "They're probably the most common animal on the planet, but we can't see them. There's billions upon billions upon billions of them." He continued: "One type of them crawls inside insects and kills them. Now, it's a bit gruesome, but it's a natural way of killing them. "You can just order these online. You just put these into a watering can and then pour them on your house plants. The best bit about this is that they crawl through the soil and hunts through the larvae and everything so they're gone. "So if you want to get rid of those little flies and you don't want loads of chemicals, buy some nematodes. I studied them for my PhD, and now they're useful in my house." Darragh also showed off the packet of nematodes he had bought online, branded as Sciarid Fly Nematodes, available on Amazon for roughly £12. How to ward off flies You can prevent flies from entering your home using several natural solutions, including utilising herbs and plants the pests despise the scent of. These include basil, lavender, mint, bay leaves, and marigold. Then you can also whip up an essential oil spray by mixing one cup of water, 10-15 drops of an essential oil such as peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, or lavender, and one tablespoon of vodka (optional, but aids in blending the oils) into a spray bottle and spritzing it around windows, doors, and other entry points in your home. Another popular method to keep flies at bay, especially tiny ones like fruit flies, is to create a homemade trap. This can be done by combining apple cider vinegar and washing up liquid in a bowl, covering it with cling film, and then piercing a few small holes in the top.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Chase fans brand show a 'fix' as Jenny Ryan blocks £142k from going to charity after 'absolute stitch up' final round
Fans of the hugely popular game show The Chase have branded it a 'fix' after chaser Jenny Ryan blocked £142,000 from going to charity in an 'absolute stitch-up' final round. The ITV game show sees members of the public competing against quiz masters for large cash prizes. And in the case of the Celebrity edition, the money won goes to charities of the celebrities' choosing. This time singer Cheryl Baker, meteorologist Laura Tobin, journalist Mark Steel and athlete Jason Bell were competing against The Vixen. Jenny managed to catch Jason, but an impressive three out of four players made it through to the final chase, setting a competitive target of 19 correct questions. The trio pushed Jenny back multiple times, gaining themselves extra points. But in the end, they were caught with just three seconds left on the clock. Mark, Cheryl and Laura were left with £1,000 each for their charities as a consolation prize, having lost out on more than £140,000. Disgruntled viewers suspected foul play, and took to social media to express their suspicion. 'Oh come on,' wrote one person. 'Charity show yet the chaser still gets questions like "what three-letter word is short for magazine?" - absolute stitch up.' While some commenters focused on the apparent simplicity of the questions put to the chaser, others felt host Bradley Walsh was inconsistent. 'Bradley Walsh needs to stop speeding up when asking the chaser questions on the final round,' one said. 'Bit of a fix really.' And one viewer questioned the format of the answer system itself, writing: 'The final chase is rigged in favour of the chasers. 'They don't have to hit a buzzer and wait for their name before answering and they get a rest when they get one wrong.' 'The game is blatantly fixed,' wrote another. 'What is the point?' After their defeat, the team looked downtrodden. Bradley told them: 'Four attempts to push back, three executed, caught with three seconds remaining, you needed one more. Do you know what that one more was?' The chaser then chimed in: 'Jason,' in reference to the fourth eliminated player on the team. It comes as a former winner of The Chase issues a stern warning to others who make it onto television - informed by his experience on some of the UK's most popular game shows. Having also featured on The 1% Club and Tipping Point, Steven Sneade has become something of a veteran contestant. His most triumphant win came when he beat chaser Paul Sinha, aka The Sinnerman, and took home an impressive £17,000. But the 69-year-old hasn't always had such good luck. 'I was knocked out of The 1% Club on the first question,' he admitted. 'Then I just had to sit there for hours while the rest of the show was filmed.' Disgruntled viewers suspected foul play, and took to social media to express their suspicion Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Liverpool-based Steven revealed just how gruelling the interview process can be, as well as the tricky task of being 'entertaining' for the camera. 'It's a difficult one, because you've got to stand out from the crowd,' he said. 'But if that's not what you're like normally, you're not going to come across very well.' Steven warned against pretending to be someone else, arguing that both viewers and producers can smell inauthenticity. 'Trying to fake a big personality will not help,' he continued. 'If you're a naturally quieter person, trying to be an extrovert isn't going to work. It's going to come across as false.' But Steven stressed there is a balance to be found, because producers will inevitably be drawn to the most interesting contestants. 'You've got to remember that it is, first and foremost, an entertainment show,' he said. 'For ITV, it's to get as many viewers as they can. Try and see it from their point of view – what do they want? They want someone who is going to be a bit lively and a bit different.' As far as talking about yourself, Steven advised would-be contestants to sell themselves and pick out the juiciest nuggets. 'You've got to play for your strengths. If your hobby is that you play the piano, don't just say you play the piano at home - try and make it something excellent. If you once played at the Royal Albert Hall, say that.' The Chase is available to watch on ITV1 on weeknights at 5pm and to stream on ITVX.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The Chase branded a ‘fix' by fuming fans as Jenny Ryan stops £142k going to charity – would you know the final answer?
THE Chase fans have branded the quiz a 'fix' - as Jenny Ryan stopped £142,000 going to charity. The ITV game show pits members of the public against a trivia genius. Advertisement 4 A celebrity team lost out on £142,000 for their charities Credit: ITV 4 Bradley Walsh hosts the hit ITV game show Credit: ITV 4 Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan managed to pull back the win Credit: ITV Cheryl Baker, Mark Steel, celebrity edtion. While Jenny caught Jason, the other three all advanced to the Final Chase. The team set an impressive target of 19 - while managing to push back Jenny multiple times. However, the Chaser still managed to wipe out the famous faces within her time limit. Advertisement Read more on The Chase This meant Cheryl , Mark and Laura left with £1,000 each for their charities, losing out on the £142,000 on the line. Writing on X, one viewer commented: "Oh come on. " Charity show yet the chaser still gets questions like 'What 3 letter word is short for magazine'. Absolute stitch up #TheChase". Another wrote: " Bradley Walsh needs to stop speeding up when asking the chaser questions on the final round. Bit of a fix really #TheChase". Advertisement Most read in News TV While a third shared: "@ITVChase... The game is blatantly fixed! What is the point?" Speaking afterwards, host Bradley Walsh told the team: "Four attempts to push back, three executed, caught with three seconds remaining, you needed one more. The Chase hit by 'fix' claims as chaser Jenny Ryan wins after controversial answer "Do you know what that one more was?" He added: " Advertisement Elsewhere, a festive celebrity episode of The Chase saw a team win £116,000 - The group comprised Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley, Pointless host Alexander Armstrong, Olympic gold medallist Bryony Page, and comedian But fans were left confused by one answer, which saw Alexander asked: "What name is given to a pointed hand tool used for making holes in the ground for seeds or young plants ?" The Chase's best moments The Chase has been entertaining ITV viewers for years, here are some of the show's most memorable moments... Bradley Walsh can't stop laughing Every time host Bradley Walsh erupts into fits of laughter on The Chase it makes for pretty entertaining TV. One particularly memorable occasion was when he was asking the question 'The title of which Elvis Presley song was engraved of the inside of Freddie Star's coffin?" As usual the contestant was given four multiple choices but The Double Trouble special To celebrate 15 years of The Chase on screens, ITV launched a The contestants with famous names Eagle-eyed ITV fans are always quick to spot interesting and sometimes hidden details on the quiz show - but there have been a few times where the names of some contestants have been overtly obvious. For example, one 2017 episode of the quiz show saw Bradley welcome four contestants who were The Beast's anger gets the best of him During an episode from the 2024 season, He had the options A) Dibble B) Nibble C) Quibble Advertisement Alexander chose dibble, which Bradley confirmed as correct. But according to gardening enthusiasts, the proper term is "dibber", not "dibble". T he Chase airs on ITV1 and ITVX. 4 Jenny is one of The Chase's six formidable quiz titans Credit: Rex Advertisement
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The Chase branded a ‘fix' by fuming fans as Jenny Ryan stops £142k going to charity – would you know the final answer?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Chase fans have branded the quiz a 'fix' - as Jenny Ryan stopped £142,000 going to charity. The ITV game show pits members of the public against a trivia genius. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 A celebrity team lost out on £142,000 for their charities Credit: ITV 4 Bradley Walsh hosts the hit ITV game show Credit: ITV 4 Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan managed to pull back the win Credit: ITV Cheryl Baker, Mark Steel, Laura Tobin and Jason Bell faced Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan in a celebrity edtion. While Jenny caught Jason, the other three all advanced to the Final Chase. The team set an impressive target of 19 - while managing to push back Jenny multiple times. However, the Chaser still managed to wipe out the famous faces within her time limit. This meant Cheryl, Mark and Laura left with £1,000 each for their charities, losing out on the £142,000 on the line. Writing on X, one viewer commented: "Oh come on. "Charity show yet the chaser still gets questions like 'What 3 letter word is short for magazine'. Absolute stitch up #TheChase". Another wrote: "Bradley Walsh needs to stop speeding up when asking the chaser questions on the final round. Bit of a fix really #TheChase". While a third shared: "@ITVChase... The game is blatantly fixed! What is the point?" Speaking afterwards, host Bradley Walsh told the team: "Four attempts to push back, three executed, caught with three seconds remaining, you needed one more. The Chase hit by 'fix' claims as chaser Jenny Ryan wins after controversial answer "Do you know what that one more was?" He added: "Jason Bell. I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to take £142,000 away." Elsewhere, a festive celebrity episode of The Chase saw a team win £116,000 - in controversial fashion. The group comprised Coronation Street actor Tony Maudsley, Pointless host Alexander Armstrong, Olympic gold medallist Bryony Page, and comedian Kerry Godliman. But fans were left confused by one answer, which saw Alexander asked: "What name is given to a pointed hand tool used for making holes in the ground for seeds or young plants?" The Chase's best moments The Chase has been entertaining ITV viewers for years, here are some of the show's most memorable moments... Bradley Walsh can't stop laughing Every time host Bradley Walsh erupts into fits of laughter on The Chase it makes for pretty entertaining TV. One particularly memorable occasion was when he was asking the question 'The title of which Elvis Presley song was engraved of the inside of Freddie Star's coffin?" As usual the contestant was given four multiple choices but Bradley could get through reading them out before bursting into hysterics. Seeming the idea of the song being option 'B: Way Down' was too much for the presenter to handle. The Double Trouble special To celebrate 15 years of The Chase on screens, ITV launched a special 'double trouble' episode where contestants faced off against not one but two of the show's beloved Chasers. And despite the odds, the contestants managed to go home with some cash! The contestants with famous names Eagle-eyed ITV fans are always quick to spot interesting and sometimes hidden details on the quiz show - but there have been a few times where the names of some contestants have been overtly obvious. For example, one 2017 episode of the quiz show saw Bradley welcome four contestants who were named after Friends characters Ross, Rachel, Phoebe and Joey. Another group of contestants with named from The Simpsons were also grouped together in another episode, much to viewers' amusement. The Beast's anger gets the best of him During an episode from the 2024 season, Mark Labbett let out his inner beast as he exploded in a fit of anger. Close to losing the competition in the Final Chase, Mark then made a silly mistake and incorrectly answered the question, 'Rabbit was a 1980 hit for which Cockney duo?' 'Oh, you idiot!' he yelled at himself while slamming the table in front of him. With seconds left on the clock, the Chaser then admitted defeat, moaning "I don't deserve to win." He had the options A) Dibble B) Nibble C) Quibble Alexander chose dibble, which Bradley confirmed as correct. But according to gardening enthusiasts, the proper term is "dibber", not "dibble". The Chase airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
