The Chase's Bradley Walsh issues dire warning to team after devastating loss

Bradley Walsh couldn't resist teasing the contestants on The Chase after they collectively missed out on a much bigger prize.

Despite all four hopefuls - Bob, Lea, Phil and Namuli - making it through to the ultimate showdown with 'The Vixen' Jenny Ryan, their cautious game strategy meant they were vying for less cash than possible. The team, each clearing their individual rounds, chose lower or middle offers which thinned their potential jackpot a move that clearly entertained Bradley Walsh.

When the last contender secured her victory, a chuckling ITV presenter warned: "Make sure you're sitting down before I tell you." In no rush, Namuli embraced her teammates, uninterested in the total, saying: "I don't need to know. I don't want to know!"

However, Bradley seized the moment to spell out the missed opportunity to the team. He said: "Now then, 13 collectively, but that should be saying 262 thousand pounds. Over a quarter of a million pounds," reports the Express.

Trying to lift their spirits, he continued: "But we have a full house against the Vixen and we are playing for 13 thousand pounds. That's 3,250 pounds each." The quartet managed to set a remarkable 17 questions for The Vixen, Jenny Ryan, to tackle in a tight two-minute window.

Despite their efforts, Jenny's sharp quizzing meant she caught up with the team, pushing back twice successfully and sealing their fate with 14 seconds to spare. Expressing sympathy for the defeated team, Brad Walsh lamented: "Almost got there, you almost made it. I've thoroughly enjoyed playing alongside you."

With a tough smile, he continued: "But I've got to take the £13,000 away as you have been caught and for you the Chase is over."

Jenny Ryan then chimed in sympathetically: "What a lovely team. Clearly you got together and you've worked to a tactic. Unfortunately, you're going to watch that first minute, in particular, of the final chase back and go 'oh no, those were the couple of questions that we could have got and that would have made all the difference.'"

She concluded optimistically: "But you know, at least it's not as painful as having to take a quarter of a million off you."

The Chase airs weekdays at 5pm on ITV1.