Every single player on lost their chance at the prize pot lon Saturday night's episode (3 May) after finding themselves unable to correctly answer the gameshow's final question. Five contestants had made it through all the previous rounds, and were then faced with a query that only the smartest one percent of the British public should be able to solve.

Show host presented the remaining players with a word puzzle, asking: "What new word links the capitalised words below? My SON TED ate raw FOOD and got SICK, then went to BED with me by his SIDE."

Sadly, the finalists were not able to come to a consensus on what the right answer was within the allotted 30 seconds. One person attempted to tackle the round, suggesting 'step' might be the correct word.

Another countered with the word 'nest'. The question was so difficult that one contestant admitted he was unable to even formulate a reply, shaking his head as he said: "Didn't get it." Lee confirmed: "Didn't put anything."

The show host revealed the right answer, which was 'sea'. He explained this is because it can be added to each of the capitalised words to create a new word; for example, season, seabed, seaside, etc.

Some viewers were left shocked that the players found themselves unable to come up with the right answer, as they had sealed the deal from the comfort of their own homes. One wrote: "I've just screamed the answer at my husband and cursed the contestants that I would've had the full £97k!!"

Another added: "Somehow I guessed Sea! As was thinking seafood, sea sick etc." A third exclaimed: "Can't believe none of them got it!!"

This comes after fans of the show were left raging earlier this weekend, complaining that they had just watched the "easiest episode" of The 1% Club ever aired. One viewer boasted that it had not even taken them five seconds to answer the general knowledge questions.

Another questioned the process that producers use to select questions for harder categories, writing: "Mum got the 70% which I didn't, yet I got the 50% question which she didn't. Make it make sense."

Earlier this week, bosses announced that they are on the lookout for new contestants as they prepare to film fresh episodes of the game show for fans.