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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rebecca Cook

The Chase viewers distracted by contestant's real age as team face Mark Labbett

The Chase viewers were left distracted during Friday’s instalment of the hit ITV game show by the age of one of the contestants.

A team of Rebecca, 40, Philippa, 19, Joel, 34 and Paul, 57 faced off with professional quizzer Mark Labbett, or The Beast, on the latest nail-biting run at a cash prize.

But as the show kicked off and the contestants introduced themselves to host Bradley Walsh, many viewers took to Twitter to debate whether contestant Joel looked his age.

While one wrote: “34?! Paul looks way younger!!!!” fellow viewers thought Joel looked wise beyond his years, with another writing: “This guy could be any age from 30 to 70.”

Another wrote: “Does anybody else think Joel looks older than 34?” as another cheekily chimed in saying: “The years mustn't have been kind to him if he is only 34?”

Some viewers were divided as Joel introduced himself to host Bradley (ITV)

Another wrote: “34????” as a fellow fan wrote: “34. Yeah right” alongside a crying laughing emoji.

Another tweeted: “He’s 34, I’d suggest he’s had a tough paper round, but he’s not yet had a proper job…” as another social media user tweeted: “34 years young, my backside, Joel!”

This comes after contestants were similarly stunned to see a 91-year-old contestant earlier this week, with many hypothesising she could have been the oldest contestant on the show.

Host Bradley was left stunned on Wednesday’s instalment of the game show as contestant Margot told the studio it was her 91st birthday.

A team of Rebecca, 40, Philippa, 19, Joel, 34, Paul, 57 faced off with professional quizzer Mark Labbett (ITV)

At the start of the programme she said: “I'm Margot, 91 and a psycho-therapist from Maidenhead.”

Bradley said: “Happy birthday Margot. 91. Congratulations. I’ve got to say it’s a thrill to have you here.”

She explained she wrote a memoir of her life a decade ago, noting that she was born in Germany and moved to the east end of London in 1939.

Rebecca, Philippa, Joel and Paul, faced off with professional quizzer Mark Labbett, or The Beast (ITV)

She added: “I’m more surprised than you that at 91 I’m still here” and told she would spend the ITV cash prize on a newfangled television if she came out on top.

ITV viewers took to Twitter to express their surprise, with one writing: “Margot looks better at 91 than I do at 31” as another wrote: “Hope I look as good as Margot at 91!”

A third chimed: “Margot is 91 years old and looks 70, fair play to her” as another social media user said: “Please let me look as good as Margot at 91.”

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