ITV’s popular quiz show The 1% Club, hosted by comedian Lee Mack, left viewers divided after a challenging final question went unanswered in the January 31 episode. The program tests contestants’ logic with progressively harder puzzles, starting with questions that 90% of people can solve and culminating in a high-stakes 1% challenge worth up to £100,000.
Contestant’s Bold Gamble Falls Short
Only one contestant, Amena, advanced to the final round, securing £10,000 in winnings. Opting to risk it all for the jackpot, she faced the ultimate puzzle displayed on screen: a picture of three identical cookery books lined up on a shelf.
The question read: “In the image below, three volumes of a cookery book series are lined up in order, next to each other on a shelf. The total thickness of the pages of each volume is 5cm, and each cover is 5mm thick. What is the distance in centimetres between the first page of volume one and the last page of volume three?”
Amena’s response of 14.9cm proved incorrect, with the correct answer being 7cm. Host Lee Mack explained: “When stored upright, the first page of a book is on the right, and the last page is on the left, so you only need to measure the pages of one book and four covers.”
Viewers React with Confusion and Criticism
Social media erupted with reactions, as many fans labeled the question a “trick” that defied expectations. One viewer posted: “That was a bloody dodgy last question #The1PercentClub.”
Another expressed bewilderment: “That 1% Q makes no sense whatsoever #The1PercentClub.” A third called it out directly: “#The1PercentClub this is a classic trick question!”
Some demanded clarification, with comments like: “That was a proper stinker,” and “Gonna need the workings for this one!” Challenges to the answer surfaced too, including one suggesting: “The answer is 5.2 cm (1 book at 5cm) (4 covers at 5mm / 0.05cm equalling 0.2cm),” while another queried: “Hold on why isn’t it 17? Someone explain.”
The 1% Club airs Saturdays on ITV and ITVX, drawing audiences with its blend of wit and intellectual tests.
