The Chase fans were left fuming tonight as they switched over to ITV to watch their favourite quiz show – only to find out it had been pulled off air in a huge schedule shake-up

The Chase fans ‘fuming’ as ITV show taken off air all week(Image: ITV)

The Chase fans were left fuming after ITV abruptly took their favoured quiz off air in a swift scheduling reshuffle. The usual 5pm slot for the fan favourite quiz show, fronted by Bradley Walsh, was unexpectedly pulled from the schedule on Tuesday (June 17).

Today, the programme was pulled from its usual 5pm slot due to coverage of the Royal Ascot on the opening day of the racing festival. Unfortunately for fans, the bad news carries on all week with racing coverage starting at 1.30pm and finishing at 6pm.

Disgruntled viewers took to X, previously known as Twitter, to vent their frustrations, with many quiz show lovers switching over to BBC One’s Pointless.

The Chase was pulled off air for the Royal Ascot(Image: ITV)

One disappointed fan penned: “#TheChase since there’s no Chase tonight, it’s over to #pointless”, while another chaffed: “Not #TheChase I was expecting #RoyalAscot.”

Another penned: “Just sat down to watch #TheChase but instead i get [horse emoji]”, as another who switched to the rival show announced: “No 5pm repeat of #TheChase today or all week due to Ascot! So Pointless will probably double its audience to at least 10.”

It’s not the only ITV show that has been affected by the coverage. Yesterday, Loose Women’s Ruth Langsford announced that the show wouldn’t be airing for the rest of the week.

“That’s it from us today, I’m afraid. It gets worse, we’re not on all week,” she told viewers. “ITV’s coverage of Ascot will be on, but we will be back same time next Monday. Until then, have a lovely week.”

Viewers quickly tuned over to the BBC quiz show Pointless(Image: BBC/Remarkable, part of Endemol Shine Group/Mark Yeoman)

The Chase first graced our screens in 2009 and swiftly became a staple on ITV. It features regular contestants vying against each other, testing their general knowledge for the chance to bag a hefty cash prize.

This isn’t the inaugural time the quiz programme has encountered significant disruption this year. Earlier this month, the teatime programme was pulled off air to accommodate coverage of the UEFA Women’s Nations League, Spain v England.

The Chase also altered its usual timetable last week when two Soccer Aid for UNICEF special episodes were broadcast on Wednesday and Friday.

Shaun Williams, David James, Lianne Sanderson, and Dion Dublin comprised the team of four celebrities who squared off against Darragh Ennis.

Meanwhile, Dermot O’Leary, Lynsey Hipgrave, Kyle Walker, and Alex Brooker challenged Anne Hegerty on Friday night to raise funds for UNICEF.

The Chase makes its comeback to our screens on Monday 23 from 5pm on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX.