Seven in 10 Brits love a quiz thanks to TV shows like The Chase – it’s one of our most popular hobbies
WE can’t get enough of shows like The Chase – with seven in 10 of us regularly tuning in to a telly competition to see if we can beat the contestants struggling on screen.
And now new research has revealed that it is among the most popular pastimes across the country.
According to the new findings from One Poll, at least one in 10 of us would go as far as to describe ourselves as a ‘dedicated quizzer’.
In a study of 2,000 adults 28 per cent said quizzing via the TV helped them relax, while a whopping 67 per cent reported a boost to their general knowledge.
But what we really love most of all is shouting out the answers when contestants are struggling.
A huge 94 percent admitted to heckling the screen.
And 21 per cent even back themselves to perform better than the people trying their luck on TV programmes like The Chase, according to the figures.
Quizzing is also now a more popular hobby than challenging crosswords, head scratching sudoku puzzles or even the satisfaction of completing a jigsaw.
And two-thirds (64 per cent) of us love to head out and about to take part in regular quizzes with other people in pubs and bars.
Although only 47 per cent of quizzers have admitted to actually winning a quiz night that they had entered in real life, that does not stop us joining the fun.
Only 34 per cent of people who enter quizzes do so in the hope of actually picking up a prize, since the majority of people (43 per cent) value socialising and having a laugh as the most enjoyable elements of an evening out.
Most have a regular team they attend quizzes with, although 29 per cent say they simply go along for the booze, banter and fun filled atmosphere.
And now Gala Bingo, as part of their partnership with ITV’s The Chase, are offering our readers the chance to win a competition prize of a Chaser on their quiz team via its new Crack the Code game at The Chase Place.
Sara Jolly from Gala Bingo, said: “Knowing a fact that nobody else does on your quiz team is a win like no other.
“And the best place to pick up these juicy little nuggets of information is usually on TV quiz shows, such as The Chase, who we’re excited to be partnered with.
“There’s also a serious side to taking part in quizzes too, in that it helps keep your brain active and learning all the time, which is so important,” added Sara.
The research also showed that just nine per cent of people who have won a pot of cash took home £250 or more – along with the bragging rights of course.
And while the most common quiz location is the pub, with 54 per cent choosing their local boozer, 32 per cent have enjoyed a Q&A session at home, and 21 per cent have joined in at their workplace for a social event with colleagues or teammates.
Nearly half of all adults polled (46 per cent) agreed quizzing is a hobby for people of all ages, and 20 per cent admitted that they’re not very good at them – but just do them for fun.
The Gala Bingo X The Chase Ultimate Quiz Night takes place in Manchester on 8th August where people can play against a real life Chaser.
Sara Jolly added: “What better way to test your knowledge than seeing if you can out-score a real-life Chaser?
“What’s more, one lucky winner of our Crack the Code game will have a Chaser on their team.
“The Chasers live and breathe facts, stats and general knowledge, so you’d better get quizzing and practising with your friends to be in with a chance of beating them!
“But, as our results show, there’s a lot more to quizzing, either in person or on TV, than winning – it’s the taking part and having a laugh that counts.”
The Chase: Current lineup of Chasers on the ITV show
The Chase first premiered on ITV back in 2009 and has become a firm favourite among viewers since then. The roster of professional quizzers ('chasers') has grown significantly since the show's launch.
- Mark Labbett (2009 – present): Known as ‘The Beast’, Mark is a former Maths teacher and previously won £32,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Mark has also reprised his role as a Chaser in the US and Australian versions of the show.
- Shaun Wallace (2009 – present): Shaun, a barrister and former Mastermind champion, goes by the ‘Dark Destroyer’. Shaun has appeared on the Australian version of The Chase. In 2008, he finished as runner-up to Barry Simmons in Are You an Egghead?, a contest to find a new member of then-BBC quiz team.
- Anne Hegerty (2010 – present): A former contestant on Mastermind, Fifteen To One and Are You an Egghead?, Anne goes by ‘The Governess’. Since joining The Chase, she appeared on I’m A Celebrity… in 2018.
- Paul Sinha (2011-present): Comedian and qualified doctor Paul joined the Chaser line-up in 2011, taking the nickname ‘The Sinnerman’. He has appeared on The Weakest Link, University Challenge and Brain of Britain. In 2018, Paul starred in series 8 of popular game show Taskmaster.
- Jenny Ryan: Known as ‘The Vixen’, Jenny was previously in a winning team on Only Connect. She also appeared in Mastermind, The Weakest Link and Fifteen To One before joining The Chase in 2015.
- Darragh Ennis: A postdoctoral researcher, Darragh joined The Chase in 2020 as ‘The Menace’. He is the first former contestant to join the line-up, having been part of a winning team against Paul Sinha in 2017.