The chase

The Chase Case Study 1

• One of the most successful daytime game shows.• General knowledge quiz based on a team of four members of the public

who work together against a Chaser• Aim: generate as large a cash prize as possible while the Chaser attempts to

limit the amount they win. Individual round and final round – contestant aims to get more questions correct than the Chaser. The Chasers have been successful on other quiz shows e.g. The Dark Destroyer: Appeared on 15 to 1, Beat the Nation, BrainTeaser, the UK version of Greed, and The Waiting Game; winner of Mastermind, finalist on Are You an Egghead?

The host and representation - Bradley Walsh

• Like many other hosts, is a comedian and light entertainer (though latterly a serious actor). Asks questions about each contestant so the audience can relate to them. Jokes with them and is self-effacing to put them at ease and engage the audience. Looks relaxed – no tie – helps put contestants at ease. Identifies with the contestants – refers to them as ‘my team’ and talks about the ways ‘we’ can beat the Chaser. This inclusiveness also engages the audiences because it involves them. He stands with the contestant during the head to head with the Chaser and provides encouragement.

The contestants and representation• Team – often a spread of ages – to help engage the audience. • Dress in a relaxed manner to create a relaxed mise-en-scene. • Ages and dress help the audience relate to the team and, therefore, the show• The show is based on team work rather than just individual skills. They

encourage each other – though sometimes to ensure the largest possible prize. Otherwise, they unite in opposition to the Chasers.

The set and the audience 1• Broadcast in front of an audience,

though they’re not seen they offer emotional responses which trigger involvement from the audience at home too.

• The set is defined by a large crescent shaped LED screen which wraps about 260 degrees around the studio space. Another main element is a large scenic “C” at the end of which the ‘Chaser’ sits. It is dominated by blue lights. The contestants sit behind an illuminated desk and the backdrop consists of moving blue dots and light. The elliptical nature of the set creates a feeling of inclusivity for the home audience, as if they are there.

The set and the audience 2• The Chaser sits in front of a red arch and

a wall of red dots – creating connotations of evil. The Chaser is placed higher than Bradley and the contestants, making them seem more powerful.

• Set – separates contestants and Chaser. Contestants sit as a team. Individual cash-builder round – contestant stands in front of the team with host, Bradley Walsh. Individual challenging the Chaser stands at the foot of a large sloping table with the Chaser looking down at them.

• Questions appear on screen in a flash of light. The fast-moving light is replicated in the background mise-en-scene to indicate time counting down.

Narrative, tension and the Chasers

• Chasers depicted as villains who attempt to block the progress of the heroes, but each is given a nickname and has created a personality that Walsh builds during his banter. They are depicted as larger than life pantomime villains; some (The Dark Destroyer especially) are (initially at least) humourless and antagonistic. When the episode’s Chaser is introduced, Walsh builds up to their entrance by wondering which one it will be, referring to them by their nick names, but also gently mocking them – because he is on the contestants’ side, after all.

Narrative, tension and the Chasers• They are filmed from a low angle to make them seem fearsome to the

contestant (and audience) who look up at them, while the contestant during this round is sometimes filmed from a high angle to make them look weak. They appear from a red arch as if they are somehow demonic and during the final chase the blue wall behind the contestants turns red to indicate tension. They give the audience someone to dislike. Without the Chaser, the only barrier to victory would be the contestants’ knowledge – WITH the Chaser, there is more tension because they add an additional barrier between the contestant and victory and that creates suspense and tension.

• Note the red lighting around the Chaser• The score around the side of the set with the red light of the Chaser catching up the

contestants’ score• The graphic of the score with the time code at the bottom of the screen• Note the camera angle showing the Chaser in a threatening position looking down on

the contestants and Walsh, who at that distance, is positioned with the team

Narrative, tension, the Chaser, music and the contestants• Contestants and Chaser – mostly presented in mid-shot with the

occasional close up on reactions. During cash builder and individual versus Chaser, focus pull is used to show the reactions of the other members of the team to help create tension. There are occasional long shots, sometimes from above during the individual round, seemingly showing the contestant as vulnerable and isolated. • Dramatic, tense theme music to represent the chase itself.• Use of music – builds as time runs out and a klaxon indicates the end

of the round. Ominous music and a change from blue to red lighting indicate the appearance of the Chaser.

The Mechanics…• First round of questions (cash builder) – relatively easy and start with an

easier question to put the contestant at ease. • Contestant will stand in front of the team, next to Walsh and answer as

many questions as possible within a limited time, in order to build cash so the team can take it into the next round. The timecode allows the audience to see that time is running out and, therefore, increases tension.• Second round - against The Chaser, more difficult. The contesant attempts

to bring the money that he or she earned to the bottom of a seven-step money board (referred to as "home"). Before the round begins, the money is placed three steps down from the top of the board, and the contestant is given the choice of either starting at that position, beginning one step closer to home or being one step closer to the chaser.

• Final round:• The round is divided into two phases–in the first, the contestants answer questions in order to

earn themselves steps to keep them ahead of the Chaser, while the second phase sees the Chaser trying to match these steps, in order to "catch" the team and prevent them winning the prize fund.

• The contestants are given a head-start of one step per contestant participating in the round. The team (or sole remaining contestant) is then given two minutes to answer as many questions as they can correctly, with each correct answer earning them one more step from the chaser. Only the first person to buzz in can give an answer, as any attempt by the other contestants to respond will lead to the question being thrown out. If only one contestant is present in the Final Chase, no buzzer is used.

• The second phase - the chaser has two minutes to catch the contestants. The Chaser must match the number of the steps that the contestants earned in the first phase, by correctly answering as many questions as possible within the time limit. However, should the Chaser give an incorrect answer or pass, the clock is stopped and the question is thrown over to the contestants, who can push the chaser back a step if they can give a correct answer..

• If the Chaser achieves the same number of steps that the contestants got before time is up, then the contestants leave empty-handed. If the contestants are not "caught", they win the prize fund to be split equally; if only one contestant remains for the Final Chase, he/she wins the entire prize.

Scheduling• The schedule is intense, recording three shows a day in batches of five

days, and it has a daily broadcast slot on ITV 1 between 5 and 6 p.m. Like many other quiz shows, they have recorded ‘celebrity specials’ where money is won for charity. It has been running since 2009. It attracts a daily audience of over 2 million, is in direct competition to BBC 1’s Pointless and usually attracts a slightly higher audience, although research has shown that viewers will quite happily switch allegiance from one show to the other.

Institution• It is produced by an independent company, Potato, for ITV.• It is a financially important show because of its success because a popular

show attracts advertisers and sponsors; however, on top of this, TV have sold the format to several countries in Europe, Australia, China, Russia and the USA. For the Australian and American versions at least, one of the original Chasers shot several episodes to lend continuity for viewers who had seen imported broadcasts of the British show. It also makes money for ITV in terms of repeat fees on the gameshow channel, Challenge.• The Chase is moving to Saturday nights with later this year with its new

'family' spinoff.• The family edition will feature four contestants who are all related, instead

of being complete strangers.

Spin-offs and promotion• There’s a board game based on the show and a version for iOS app for Android and

Apple phones and tablets. • If you miss episodes, you can watch them on ITV hub or the show’s own YouTube

channel or Facebook, which allows the audience to comment.• To engage the audience the YouTube channel includes episodes but prominently

features – jokes and chases• The YouTube and ITV hub are examples of synergy because they also promote I’m a

Celebrity…, Potato, This Morning, Ninja Warrior and other shows• There is a Twitter page giving updates of the episodes and allowing audience

participation.• This kind of interactivity gives the audience a sense of involvement so they will be

more likely to watch the show