ITV The Chase’s Bradley Walsh under fire for ‘fat shaming’ contestant

A joke on was badly received by audiences this evening – with presenter coming under fire by fans for “fat shaming” a contestant.

The 64-year-old host welcomed on four players as they tested their general knowledge skills and went head to head with Chaser . Sarah from Worcester, Martyn from Pont-y-Clun, Hannah from Blackburn and Neil from Mansfield all competed in a cashbuilder round before choosing an amount to play for in the head to head, hoping to secure a place in the final Chase. 

First up was Sarah, a 60-year-old miniature artist. As she told the what her job title was, he jokingly quipped: “Oh well you look big enough to me!”

Sarah laughed before responding: “I’m quite short.” Intrigued, Brad asked more about her work as the player explained: “I specialise in little mini Gothic miniatures for dolls’ houses. 

“I make elaborate things like little witches’ potion cabinets and little Gothic items for vampires and things like that.”

Depsite the contestant seemingly unphased by Bradley’s joke, fans online were fuming. X (formerly Twitter) was flooded with complaints from disgruntled viewers.

One fumed: “#thechase Brad should stop the fat shaming it’s 2025 it’s so old fashioned and out of date,” while another echoed: “What’s with the fat shaming, Brad? Hmmm? #TheChase.”

Someone else said: “Fat Jokes. It’s 2025 can’t be doing that Brad’s every Tom, Dick and Harry are getting cancelled. #TheChase.”

“Fat shaming? How original, brad, that was less funny than the menace #TheChase,” said one more.

Earlier this week, fans also . Posting to social media, viewers complained. 

One wrote: “Think this is a repeat but Brad is in a rude mood today. Not listening to his guests just going through the spiel #thechase.”

Bradley has had a successful career in televison on gameshows and on the small-screen alike from roles in Doctor Who and ITV’s adaptation of The Darling Buds of May called The Larkins.