An ITV gameshow appeared to eliminate a record number of people in a single round after asking a question that left viewers at home ‘gutted’.
In the latest episode of The 1% Club, presenter Lee Mack put forward a question involving emojis to the group of players that were still in the game.
The programme always begins with 100 contestants, who are whittled down using questions that require reason and logic until only one question stands between the winner and the prize pot.
That final question is supposed to be so tricky that only 1% of the population can answer it.
However, many were caught out midway through Saturday night’s episode by a perplexing conundrum, which resulted in 30 people being kicked out of the game in one go.
That question was: ‘How many eyes can you see in the image below?’
The players had to deduce how many eyes they could see in the image, which was made up of letters, symbols and emojis.
When it was revealed how they had answered, Lee, 55, was gobsmacked by the fact that 30 people had gone out.
‘Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! 30 people out – I think that might some sort of record!’ he exclaimed.
The comedian then revealed what the answer was: 15.
Sadly, a number of people had thought that it was 22, because they included the letter ‘i’ in their total of ‘eyes’… but the question had been asking solely about eyes that one would find on someone’s face, not the letter.
I’d still be in if not for that stupid eyes question😡😂#the1percentclub
— Phil not Bob (@Bob71136804) February 24, 2024
#The1PercentClub Still in, but gutted I wasted the pass on the 15 eyes question.
I counted 15 eyes, but decided there must be a trick because it was too easy, and I bottled it and wasted the pass.— Ken Barlow (@I_am_KenBarlow) February 24, 2024
Viewers at home were similarly upset with the conclusion, since they had been playing along while watching, hoping to complete without getting any questions wrong.
‘Damn. Out at the 35% question this week. All because of eyes!’ wrote Benj on X.
‘I’d still be in if not for that stupid eyes question😡😂,’ added Phil.
Ken admitted that he had come to the conclusion that it was 15, but then changed his mind as he thought it was a ‘trick’.
#The1PercentClub the angry emoji eyes were closed so answer is 13
— geordie (@geordie1956) February 24, 2024
I got the concept of the question right but put 12 as missed the one eye in the middle and thought the angry emoji's eyes were closed so technically they couldn't be seen #The1PerCentClub
— Ian 🏴 (@Ian38711310) February 24, 2024
‘I counted 15 eyes, but decided there must be a trick because it was too easy, and I bottled it and wasted the pass,’ he wrote.
Some people, however, pointed out a potential flaw in the question, pointing out that the eyes on the red furious face emoji are closed.
‘The angry emoji eyes were closed so answer is 13,’ said Geordie, while Ian added: ‘I got the concept of the question right but put 12 as missed the one eye in the middle and thought the angry emoji’s eyes were closed so technically they couldn’t be seen.’
Sorry guys – it just wasn’t meant to be!
The 1% Club returns on Saturday at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
