A contestant on The Chase has made television history by accepting the lowest offer ever presented on the ITV quiz show, leaving viewers stunned and prompting a wave of criticism online.

Chetan, a 25-year-old salesman from Langley, faced a difficult decision when he stepped up to challenge Jenny Ryan, better known as The Vixen. With his teammates already having secured a substantial prize fund, he could either play it safe, take a huge risk or accept an offer that would see £17,000 deducted from the team’s total.

His choice quickly became one of the night’s biggest talking points, although the eventual outcome suggested that his controversial strategy might have been smarter than viewers initially thought.

A Strong Start for the Team

Hosted by Bradley Walsh, Wednesday night’s episode, which aired on 20 November, featured four contestants: Chetan, Nicky, Kim and Jason. Their shared goal was to make it through to the Final Chase and win as much money as possible.

The team got off to an encouraging start, with Jason taking the first turn. After earning £6,000 in the Cash Builder round, he opted for the Chaser’s lower offer of £2,000 rather than risk losing his place in the competition.

Kim took a much bolder approach. Having accumulated £8,000 in her Cash Builder, she chose to pursue the higher offer of £70,000.

The gamble paid off, as both contestants successfully made it back to the team, bringing their combined prize fund to an impressive £72,000.

However, the remaining two contestants faced a more difficult challenge, and their decisions would have a significant impact on the amount the team could potentially take home.

Nicky and Chetan Make Unusual Choices

Nicky was next to face The Vixen. Despite earning £7,000 in the Cash Builder, she decided to accept an offer of minus £5,000 in an attempt to improve her chances of returning to the team.

Although the decision reduced the potential winnings, it reflected the group’s strategy of prioritising numbers over individual prizes. All four contestants wanted to reach the Final Chase together, believing that having a full team would give them a better chance of beating the Chaser.

Chetan took that approach to an entirely different level.

When he reached the podium, Ryan presented him with three options. He could stick with £2,000, take a chance on the substantial £73,000 offer or accept minus £17,000, an unprecedented low in the show’s history.

Despite the temptation of a much larger prize, Chetan chose the most cautious option available.

Explaining his reasoning to Bradley Walsh, he admitted: “It’s probably not going to be the most popular choice, but I do think there is strength in numbers…so I’m going to go for -£17,000.”

His prediction about the public’s reaction proved accurate.

Viewers React With Outrage

Chetan’s decision immediately sparked debate on social media, with some viewers struggling to understand why anyone would willingly accept such a substantial deduction.

One X user expressed their disbelief, writing: “What the f**k am I watching, imagine taking the minus £17,000 offer on The Chase…the lowest offer ever. I wouldn’t be able to walk the streets without being ashamed of myself.”

Another viewer took a similarly critical approach, joking: “Approval from your teammates or not, this is a criminal offence.”

A third person went even further, suggesting they would find the experience so embarrassing that they would want to leave the country.

“I would change my name and flee to a different country if I did this. Wouldn’t be able to handle the shame,” they wrote.

For those watching at home, surrendering £17,000 of the potential prize money seemed like an extraordinary price to pay simply to secure a place in the final round.

Yet the reaction from viewers was not shared by everyone involved in the game.

The Vixen Backs Chetan’s Decision

Despite the online criticism, Chetan received support from both his teammates and The Vixen herself.

Ryan appeared convinced that his decision was the right one, explaining that the team would still have £50,000 in the bank if he successfully returned.

She told him: “Absolutely the correct thing to do I think. There will be £50,000 in the bank if you get back, which is more than most teams would be playing for.”

She also acknowledged the difficulty of facing all four contestants in the final round, adding: “That is the price to pay for that fearsome full house.”

Her comments highlighted the logic behind Chetan’s gamble. By accepting the negative offer, he gave himself a better opportunity to return to the team, preserving their chance to compete with all four players in the Final Chase.

Some viewers also defended him online, arguing that his willingness to put the team’s chances ahead of a larger individual contribution demonstrated a sensible long-term strategy.

As it turned out, those who supported his decision had good reason to do so.

The £17,000 Gamble Ultimately Pays Off

When the team reached the Final Chase, Chetan proved to be an important part of their effort to defeat The Vixen.

Despite the controversy surrounding his earlier decision, the four contestants worked together to secure a victory, finishing with 21 steps ahead of the Chaser’s 18.

The result meant that Chetan, Nicky, Kim and Jason successfully claimed the £50,000 prize fund.

Each contestant walked away with £12,500, turning what had initially appeared to be a disastrous decision into part of a winning strategy.

Chetan’s record-breaking offer may have left some viewers questioning his judgement, but the final result gave him a compelling defence. His priority had been getting the entire team through to the final round, and that approach ultimately helped them secure the win.

While accepting minus £17,000 might not be a decision every contestant would make, Chetan can certainly take comfort in knowing that his controversial gamble ended with a substantial payday.

After all the criticism, he may now have the last laugh.