The Chase tragedies - ITV star's death heartbreak, terminal cancer and fatal house fire

ITV's The Chase has given viewers some of the most nail-biting quiz show moments on television. Hosted by Bradley Walsh, the hit daytime show has made stars out of its Chasers and household names of everyday contestants brave enough to take them on.

But alongside the laughter, light-hearted banter and life-changing wins, there have been moments of real sadness. Over the years, several contestants' journeys have ended in tragedy - with some losing their lives just weeks after recording their episode, and others seeing personal heartbreak overshadow their hard-earned victories.

Here are five of the most devastating stories linked to The Chase and its spin-off Beat the Chasers:

loss of Tim McCarthy, a 64-year-old former headteacher from Tyldesley, Greater Manchester.

Tim stunned viewers with an extraordinary performance, winning a life-changing £100,000 jackpot against Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan. What audiences didn't know at the time was that Tim had been diagnosed with a terminal illness before filming. He chose to go ahead with the show, knowing his time was limited.

His widow, Rachel, later revealed: "Only myself and our three children knew he had won." Because of ITV's strict rules, Tim carried the secret of his incredible victory to his grave. He died in July, just a month before his episode aired. Friends and family gathered in a Manchester pub to watch his triumphant appearance, celebrating the moment he never got to share publicly.

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When asked what he planned to do with the money, Tom said he wanted to buy a dog. True to his word, he welcomed a puppy called Sammy into his life. Tragically, Sammy was killed in a car accident - on 17 December 2023, the very day Tom's episode finally aired two years after filming.

Tom described the heartbreak to the Express: "I had all these people messaging me saying, ‘congrats on winning, are you going to buy a dog?' And I had to tell them, ‘I did, but very sadly he passed away.'"

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But Pete never lived to see his episode broadcast. He died in a tragic house fire on 27 June 2021, shortly before the show went to air. His son Ben revealed: "Dad was so excited about the episode. He talked about it daily up to the filming and then every week after."

When the episode was finally shown, tributes poured in from fellow contestants and viewers. Chaser Paul Sinha called Pete "a true gentleman, a warm, engaging and thoroughly entertaining opponent."

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In 2022, she died after choosing to forego further treatment and chemotherapy. In one heartbreaking statement, she said: "I would gladly give back the £40k in exchange for being cancer free."

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Darragh Ennis, known as The Menace, led the tributes from the show's stars, writing: "Such a sad loss. A really fun and entertaining contestant." He added that Mike had been "a fantastic contestant" and sent condolences to his family. Fans echoed the sentiment, describing him as "memorable" and "a joy to watch."

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