I spent my winnings from The Chase on a Bradley Walsh tattoo – my friends and family hate it but I have no regrets

A CONTESTANT on The Chase initially stunned Bradley Walsh with her plans for a game show-themed tattoo.

Last month, Sam Chaffey caused a stir when she baffled the host as she admitted her intention to get a tattoo dedicated to the long-running ITV gameshow.

The contest revealed to Bradley Walsh, 63, how she wanted to get the tattoo - of an iceberg with 'The Chase' written in cursive as waves below it.

The job centre manager wanted to commemorate her time on the show and an Alaskan cruise she and 56-year-old Darren Chaffey went on last month.

The aspiring quizzer banked £23,000 in her cash builder round and she went onto took home £7,600 from the final chase.

But she's now splashed out £200 on the tattoo on her left wrist after deciding she was 'too old' for an inking of Jon Bon Jovi.

Although she admitted that friends and family think the tattoo is 'a bit naff', but says she has no regrets and is eyeing up future game show body art after she returned from the cruise.

Sam, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said: "I wanted a tattoo for ages but it took me years to actually put something on paper, because once it's done it's permanent.

"I turned 50 last year and I thought 'I'll get a tattoo for my 50th, I'm at the age now where I can commit. I thought 'what shall I have?'.

"Jon Bon Jovi is the love of my life but I'm probably a bit too old for that. I'm far too old for a picture of his face on me.

"So, I just thought 'being on a gameshow is quite an achievement, let's commemorate it permanently with ink on my arm'.

"As soon as I knew I was having a tattoo, I thought 'I'm having an iceberg and 'The Chase' as waves'.

"I'd already planned it out before I went on the show. It's as good a tattoo as any.

"My friends and family all thought it was a bit naff to be quite honest, but I just think it's different.

"There's a tale behind it. I don't regret it for a minute, I love it. I'm just glad I really liked the holiday because I thought, 'God what if the holiday is a disaster' and there's a permanent reminder on me?'."

Despite having her quirky tattoo planned out months earlier, Sam didn't actually think she'd actually win when up against brainbox the Sinnerman, Paul Sinha.

Sam said: "My legs were a bit wobbly, like they were jiggling all over the street. I really didn't think I'd win. I'm alright at quizzes, I'm confident.

"I only went on it because my daughter said 'you're the cleverest person I know', which I thought was lovely.

"That's why I started applying. I was watching loads of [re-runs] of The Chase. I got the quiz book and everything. I was really surprised that we won, to be honest.

"I had an auntie and uncle who went around the world. They always said the best holiday they ever went on was the Alaskan cruise.

"So, I thought [I'll get] a tattoo for that and to commemorate the show. Why not?"

She added: "I'm happy with it, the tattoo artist did a really good job."

On the show, which aired on ITV on June 7th, Sam said: "I’m going to get my first tattoo, because at the age of 50 I feel like I can finally commit.

"My first tattoo is going to be an iceberg with The Chase written as waves underneath it."

Despite looking puzzled, gracious host Bradley replied: "Why not?"
The mum hopes to continue doing more game shows and may even get more tattoos to commemorate them, hoping for cash to get her eyes lasered and a new motor for her daughter.

Sam said: "Next I want to go on The 1% Club, that's what I'm aiming for.

"I thought 'I need to win big now', I'm on all or nothing now. My daughter wants a new car and I need my eyes lasered.

"If I won The 1% Club, I may get another tattoo as well."

The Chase's Tiktok account shared a clip of the funny exchange on June 6th that went viral, racking up 310,000 views and 28,400 likes.
Many flooded the comments section branding her 'iconic' and a 'queen' for her quirky tattoo design.

Sam said: "Going viral has felt mad. After I went on, I thought 'oh I shouldn't have said this and I shouldn't have said that'.

"I thought 'I wasn't very good'. I was amazed. My daughter said 'Oh you're on TikTok!'. It was just mad.

"It was quite heartwarming. There are so many stories about trolls, but genuinely it was lovely really. The people on TikTok and Instagram have been really lovely."

ITV posted it to TikTok with the caption: "Contestant Sam is a relatable icon [laughing emoji] #TheChase #tattoos #crochet".

One person commented: "I love her so much."

Another wrote: "I want to be her when I grow up".

"Is she for real about that tattoo?", asked a third.

Whilst a fourth added: "Genuinely iconic."