The Chase viewers in tears as Bradley Walsh halts show to share emotional message

The Chase returned to our screens on Saturday afternoon as Bradley Walsh welcomed a new group of hopefuls to face The Menace Darragh Ennis - but the show was stopped for an emotional announcement

Fans of The Chase reached for the tissues when presenter Bradley Walsh halted proceedings for a heart-rending interlude.

The ITV quiz show rerun had forecast a shower of fresh contestants to the arena, introduced with zeal by Walsh, who were keen to scoop up some hefty winnings. Contestants Rhys, Ann, Bethan, and Darren entered the stage, braced to battle wits against the formidable Chaser Darragh 'The Menace' Ennis.

However, it was Ann who stole the spotlight with her poignant narrative about her husband's recent encounter with dementia amidst the pandemic. In an emotive gesture, she spoke of her spouse's plight, asking: "Could I make a plug for my husband? " Walsh tenderly supported her with: "Plug away darling."

Seizing the moment, Ann requested: "His name is John, he is in a care home and they'll all be watching. Can you say hello to John and all the staff." Without hesitance, Walsh faced the camera, delivering a heartfelt salutation: "John, lots of love to you mate, everyone looking after everyone there, and especially those looking after John.", reports the Daily Record.

He followed with appreciative commentary: "Thank you so, so much from myself and Ann. Lots of love," and then, with finesse, switched the tenor back to competition, cheerfully enquiring, "Now are you ready to play? ". The latest episode of X—previously known as Twitter—left audiences feeling all the emotions, prompting a flood of responses across the internet as they connected deeply with what unfolded onscreen.

One touched fan posted online: "Got something in my eye," while another enthused: "Oh Ann! What a babe." The outpouring of sentiment didn't stop there, with comments like: "I'm crying and I haven't even burnt the dinner yet," and "This is breaking my heart," highlighting the deeply affecting nature of the episode.

Contestant Ann left a lasting impression by nabbing a hefty £6,000 during her high-pressure round, joining forces with Rhys who fetched the same amount, eyeing a potential combined windfall of £12,000. With Bethan securing £3,000 and Darren adding £5,000 after making it through to the final chase, the group’s total hopeful prize money soared to an extraordinary £20,000.

In a finale that kept viewers on the edge of their seats, despite accruing a commendable 16 correct answers, the team were ultimately bested by The Menace, who caught them with just 12 seconds remaining, leading to a nail-biting conclusion where the squad sadly walked away empty-handed.

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