The Chase Around the World's first contestants beat the Chasers but a 90s pop music question leaves them stumped
Did you know the answer?The Chase Around the World kicked off tonight and The Chasers suffered their first defeat in the ITV spin-off.
Bradley Walsh hosts the new ITV show, which appears to be a cross between The Chase and Race Across the World.
Six pairs of contestants began the first stint in Rome, before racing across the city to the finish line.
They had to answer a series of puzzles and questions along the way in order to progress to each checkpoint.
The final team to meet Bradley at the finish line had to face their fate and go up against Anne Hegerty and Mark Labbett in a quick round of The Final Chase – and incredibly, they won.
But despite being able to answer multiple difficult questions, it was a 90s pop music puzzle earlier in the show that they failed on.
The Chase Around the World’s launches on ITV
The six teams of contestants starring in The Chase Around the World are:
- Nicola and Maddie – mother and daughter.
- Sisters Kati and Amy.
- Dilan and Emily, who are newly-engaged.
- David and Steven – father and son.
- Friends Matt and Cerys.
- Ashwin and Nikita – father and daughter.
They all began with a quick-fire quiz. This determined which team set off on The Chase Around the World first.
The teams then used an electronic tablet to answer a series of questions, which saw them racing all across Rome to different landmarks. At one point, they even had to find a car and drive to the next checkpoint.
But during the race, Ashwin and Nikita – who previously appeared on The Family Chase (and lost) – struggled with a question 99 per cent of millennials could answer.
They were sent to a souvenir kiosk and found a bunch of teddies hanging outside the door.
When one of the bear’s paws was pressed, Chaser Mark’s voice said: “Where you’re headed next is connected to Claire, Lisa, Ian, Faye, Lee.”
The answer to the puzzle is Steps, as in the 90s pop band. Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Faye Tozer and Lee Latchford-Evans are the five singers in the group.
But sitting down puzzled, Nikita suggested to her dad: “Ian McKellen, Claire Danes, Lisa Kudrow?”
Ashwin and Nikita beat The Chasers
The question about Steps really held Ashwin and Nikita up. The father and daughter had to instead head to a pizzeria to get another clue to solve the riddle.
They eventually worked out the Spanish toppings on the pizza would led them to The Spanish Steps.
As they headed off, Ashwin muttered: “Who the hell is Claire, Lisa…?”
Ashwin and Nikita were last to arrive at The Spanish Steps. This meant they had to play The Chase with Anne and Mark.
Incredibly, Nikita had a blinder and they managed to get 10 questions correct within 42 seconds. Anne and Mark weren’t so fortunate.
The Chasers only got six questions right before the 42 seconds ran out.
When is The Chase Around the World next?
Given that they beat The Chasers, Ashwin and Nikita are through to the next leg of the race. The teams will be going up against each other again in Barcelona, Spain.
Whoever finishes the Spanish race last will have to go up against Chasers Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis in a Final Chase.
Sound good? Unfortunately, you have a week to wait.
The Chase Around the World continues at 9pm on Thursday July 23, 2026. Boo!
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