Twelve contestants were knocked out of The 1% Club after struggling with a calculator-based puzzle that left ITV viewers questioning how difficult the question really was.
Hosted by Lee Mack, Saturday night’s episode of the popular ITV game show saw a surprisingly large number of players eliminated during the 30% round. While contestants had just 30 seconds to find the correct answer, many viewers watching at home solved the puzzle with little difficulty.
The question quickly sparked a reaction on social media, with fans describing it as suspiciously easy for that stage of the competition.
Can You Solve the Calculator Puzzle?
Unlike quiz shows such as The Chase and Tipping Point, The 1% Club does not rely on general knowledge. Instead, contestants must demonstrate their logic, reasoning and common sense to survive each round.
The competition begins with 100 players, all hoping to make it through to the final question and earn a place in the prestigious 1% Club. The questions are designed to test how people think, with the final challenge representing something only one per cent of the public would answer correctly.
During Saturday’s episode, Mack presented the remaining contestants with an illustration of a standard four-function calculator before asking:
“What’s the largest four-digit number you can type using just the number keys on the bottom two rows of this calculator without using the same number key twice?”
With only 30 seconds to work out the answer, the contestants had to think carefully about the arrangement of the calculator’s number keys.
The correct answer was 3210. However, 12 players failed to identify the number and were eliminated from the competition.
ITV Viewers Question the Difficulty
Although the puzzle proved challenging for a dozen contestants, many viewers at home managed to work out the answer and were surprised by the number of players who got it wrong.
Fans quickly took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their reactions, with several questioning whether the puzzle was difficult enough to feature in the 30% round.
One viewer wrote: “How did 12 go out???? It’s 3210”
Another expressed their disbelief, posting: “Wt*….12 out???”
A third viewer also questioned the challenge, writing: “3210 …Is it easier this week?”
Someone else appeared equally baffled by the number of eliminations, asking: “3210. How is this a 30% question?”
A fifth fan summed up the general reaction by describing the puzzle as suspiciously straightforward: “The calculator question seems suspiciously easy.”
The responses highlighted the contrast between the contestants’ struggles in the studio and the confidence of viewers playing along at home.
Prize Pot Climbs to £80,000
Following the round, Mack revealed that the show’s prize pot had increased to an impressive £80,000.
Despite the significant number of eliminations, the remaining contestants continued their attempt to progress through the competition and reach the final question.
The calculator puzzle became a talking point because of its seemingly simple solution, with viewers left wondering how so many players had failed to spot the answer within the time limit.
The 1% Club airs on ITV1, and episodes are available to stream on ITVX.