ITV fans were left furious when their favorite show, The Chase, was abruptly taken off air due to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a general election on July 4. The announcement, which took place at 5pm outside Downing Street, coincided with the usual airing time of the quiz show, causing a dramatic shake-up in the TV schedule.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s early return from a trip to Albania fueled speculation about the impending announcement. The cancellation of The Chase did not sit well with many viewers, with one person expressing their frustration on social media, saying, “Fumin, where’s #TheChase.” Another viewer commented, “Right that’s it, where’s the b****y #thechase? Rishi best get this over and done with. I can’t tolerate, Preston and Brady filling for half an hour @ITV. Off to get myself registered to vote.”
The disappointment was echoed by others, with one person’s son being described as “absolutely fuming” about the interruption. Another viewer urged ITV to prioritize The Chase over the general election coverage, stating, “@ITV get the chase on nobodys intrested in the general election.”
During his announcement, Sunak faced protestors who played the soundtrack of “Things Can Only Get Better,” which was famously used by Tony Blair’s Labour party during the 1997 general election. Sunak also addressed the global security threat posed by the war in Ukraine and emphasized that uncertain times lie ahead. However, he assured the public that he and his government have a clear plan.
Last week, Sunak appeared as a guest on Loose Women, where he discussed the government’s plans for sex education in schools. Despite being pressed by the panel, Sunak dismissed the idea of leaving Parliament and moving to the United States if he loses the general election. The segment ended with the panel cutting him off for going over time. Following the break, one of the hosts commented that Sunak seemed “relaxed” during the conversation and appeared to have “enjoyed himself.”
The Chase is a popular quiz show that airs on ITV and ITVX on weekdays at 5pm.
