The 1% Club backlash as contestant wins £97k on ITV show despite getting the 5% question wrong
Viewers complained 'something felt very wrong' about the end of last night's episode
The 1% Club returned to ITV last night (March 7), with one contestant taking home the huge £97,000 cash prize – but should Zoe have even been allowed to answer the 1% question in the first place?
Some fans of the show think not…
What happened on The 1% Club last night?
Last night’s show saw contestants Zoe, Jess and Ryan make it to the 1% question. Except they didn’t exactly ‘make it’ to the 1% question. That’s because all three of the final players got the 5% question wrong.
They were asked: “What four-letter word can you put after the image on the left and before the image on the right to replace the question mark and make two new words?”
The answer was “back”, but host Lee Mack revealed: “None of them got it right.”
But if viewers at home were expecting the episode to end there, then they were mistaken.
The final countdown…
Lee explained. “So the bad news is all three of you got it wrong, but the good news is you did better than everyone else here tonight which means that you are our winners.”
He then told Zoe, Jess and Ryan: “Come down and join me.”
Lee continued: “Because you’ve done so well and made it further than anyone else you win a share of £10,000. But now you face a dilemma. You can leave the show and take your share of £10,000, which works out at £3,333. Or you can risk it all by attempting the 1% question.”
Jess decided to leave with her £3,333 winnings. Zoe and Ryan played the 1% question. It asked: “What word is represented by the times on the clocks below?”
Ryan didn’t write anything down and crashed out. Zoe, meanwhile, answered “label” and got the brain teaser correct. Lee then informed her that she’d won £97,000.
Backlash as series rules challenged
However, viewers on the hashtag were a little perplexed over how the trio even made it to the final question in the first place, given they got the one before it wrong.
“How can they go through to the final? Should have no winners,” said one. Another agreed and said: “The last three didn’t get the 5% question right so shouldn’t have an opportunity to go for the 1% question!”
A third agreed and said: “Something feels very wrong about getting the 5% question wrong but then getting the 1% question correct and winning £97,000.”
Regardless of how she got there, others were thrilled Zoe landed the cash prize.
“Well deserved and an absolutely beautiful girl,” said one. “Well done Zoe!” said another.
The 1% Club taken off ITV next Saturday night
Meanwhile, we have bad news for fans of the Lee Mack-fronted series.
It won’t be on air next Saturday night (March 14). Along with Britain’s Got Talent and The Jonathan Ross Show, The 1% Club is being hauled off air. That’s because ITV is showing the Six Nations clash between England and France instead.
Read more: The top 40 hardest questions The 1% Club has ever aired
