Season 1
The Chase is a British television game show created by Danny Carvalho, Pete Faherty, Chris Gepp, Elliot Johnson, Matt Pritchard and Amanda Wilson in which a team of four contestants attempt to amass as much money as possible for a team kitty by answering quick-fire general knowledge questions whilst playing against an opponent who plays for the bank, known as "The Chaser".
The series premiered in the UK on ITV on 29 June, 2009.
The Chase premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Entertainment channel on Thursday 11 July 2013, at 21h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 1 aired on BBC Entertainment from 11 July to 5 September, 2013, on Thursdays at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are nine episodes in the first season.
Synopsis
The Chase is on!
Hosted by Bradley Walsh, contestants must answer general knowledge questions and play their tactics right in order to get themselves into the Final Chase, where they could win a cash pot worth thousands of pounds.
However, standing in the way is their common enemy, the Chaser, one of the finest quiz brains in the country. An intellectually dominating and supremely self-confident quiz genius, they will chase contestants down the board in a tense and thrilling test of knowledge to try to catch them and throw them out of the game.
The Chase isn't just a quiz; it's a race, where the contestants must avoid being caught by the Chaser. Stay ahead of the Chaser and they share the pot; get caught and they lose the lot!
The Beast, The Barrister, The Sinnerman and The Governess return with the aim to chill contestants to the bone and see them leave empty handed.
How will contestants fair against our famous four, can they be beaten or will the Chasers reign supreme?
Format
Cash Builder
Contestants have 1 minute to build up as much cash as they can by answering quick-fire questions. Each question is worth £1,000.
The Chaser's Offers
The amount the contestant wins goes onto the board, three steps ahead of the Chaser. Contestants then have the chance to change their starting position – if they want a bigger head start on the Chaser, they can start one step closer to home, but the Chaser will offer them a lesser amount of money.
This could even mean a minus amount! Or, if they are feeling brave, they can start a step closer to the Chaser for which they will be offered a higher amount.
The Chase
Decision made, every correct answer to multiple choice questions moves the contestant and their money one step closer to home however, get a question wrong and they stay where they are.
The Chaser answers the same questions and tries to close the gap between them. Make it home safely and they go through to the Final Chase along with the money they have built up, but get caught and they are out with nothing.
The Final Chase
Surviving contestants work as a team to answer as many questions as they can in 2 minutes. For every contestant through to The Final Chase, they get an extra step head start on the Chaser.
They then get one step for every correct answer and must then watch nervously as the Chaser is given two minutes to try and catch them.
If the Chaser gets a question wrong and the team can get it right, they push the Chaser back one step. If the Chaser fails to catch the team, they win and split the cash pot equally between them; if they are caught they go home with nothing.
Seasons
Series exclusive to BBC Entertainment
Season 1 (9 episodes)
Premiere: 11 July 2013 | Finale: 5 September 2013 | Thursdays, 21h00
Season 2 (40 episodes)
Premiere: 12 September 2013 | Finale: 12 June 2014 | Thursdays, 21h00