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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan

American The Chase has massively unhelpful change from UK - and the Beast got axed

After becoming a massive hit in the UK, The Chase went across the pond for an American version of the popular quiz show.

Fox ordered two pilot episodes in April 2012 with Bradley Walsh as presenter, but they passed on the show and it was picked up by the Game Show Network.

Baywatch star and TV presenter Brooke Burns got the host role - but was joined by a very famous face from the UK for the first episode in August 2013.

Mark Labbett, otherwise known as 'The Beast', became the only Chaser on the new show - and got the additional nickname of 'The Transatlantic Giant.'

The format was almost identical, featuring the classic Cash Builder, head-to-head Chase and then group Final Chase, but there was one key difference.

Mark Labbett on the revived version of The Chase in America (ABC)

Rather than the traditional four contestants, there were only three in the US edition, making it harder to get more people and money back for the Final Chase.

The American version of The Chase originally ran for four seasons and 51 episodes before going on hiatus in 2015, but six years later it was picked up by a rival network.

ABC revived The Chase in 2020 with a brand new host, Sara Haines from ABC's daytime talk show The View, and a new set of Chasers.

Jeopardy! champions Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer were in the hot seat for the first season of the revival - with The Beast returning as a fourth Chasers for the second season.

However, Mark was cut from the line-up ahead of season three - and in February this year he admitted he did not expect to be dropped.

Responding to a picture of the Chasers tweeted out on the show's official Twitter account, he wrote: "If that is my last show for #thechaseabc at least I went out on a high :)"

He added: "Not been re-signed, That’s life. Grateful for the opportunity to work with - and compare myself to - the GOATS."

The following month, The Beast confessed he was "gutted" he wasn't invited back as a Chaser.

But he sent his best wishes to the new set of Chasers, writing: "New season. New Chasers

"Victoria Groce, Brandon Blackwell, and Buzzy Cohen join Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer on May 3 when #TheChase returns."

When asked by a fan if he was not reappearing due to contact reasons, he said: "No they just didn't renew me. No reason was offered."

He continued: "Gutted to not be invited back but really excited at the new lineup. Am expecting Brandon and Victoria to wow America :) They will be fantastic :) Bon chance!"

Giving more information, Mark added: "Someone had to make way as the producers reluctantly admitted to me :( still grateful for the one series I had"

It seems the move didn't go down well with viewers, as many called for his return and the show suffered a 40 per cent drop in viewing figures, according to news site BuzzerBlog.

Mark has got a new role now (ITV)

A game show Twitter account posted ratings for series three, then wrote: "The Chase has had an alarming downward trend for season 3. It lost 33% of its demo (0.32) and nearly 40% of its viewers (2.229M average). Hopefully the last half of season 3 does better."

When a fan called for Mark to be brought back, he replied: "Too late, I work for GSN now :)"

Mark has not gone into further details on what his new project is, but he has gone back to the Game Show Network again.

In November last year, Mark looked back on his interview and gave his thoughts as to why he was let go.

"In one sense, it was always going to happen because there are so many quality American quizzers out there," he told the Daily Express.

"I'm actually very thankful for the fact I got a year out there where I did a decent job, I think, and more importantly, I got paid in dollars so happy days!

"The irony was that the American show wanted some more diverse Chasers and I found them two of them who I know well, I got them the best female quizzer in the world!

"But I got one good year and I am still working out in America just on a different show so reputation is everything."

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