A BEAT The Chasers contestant has asked Bradley Walsh to apologise after he said she “completely scammed us all”.
Robyn Free, who has cancer, sat for the high-stakes ITV quiz but jumped up after winning £40,000, saying: “You have no idea what that means to me.”
But after she walked off the stage in an episode aired this week, host Bradley looked on in pretend shock.
Then, turning to the empty chair the 61-year-old star said, jokingly: “She completely scammed us all.”
Pretending to be the 72-year-old, he added: “‘I’ve got to sit down, oh I’m not sure what I’m doing, I’m going to win a cat. Forty large, ta-da, love. See ya.’ Unbelievable!”
After seeing his remarks for the first time on screen, Robyn said the presenter “owes her an apology”, calling the quip an “unkind joke at my expense”.
She explained: “I understand maybe he thought I didn’t need a chair but I really can’t stand for more than 10 mins or so before my legs may give way.”
The quiz queen added: “I would gladly give back the £40k in exchange for being cancer free.”
A rep for Beat The Chasers broadcaster ITV said they did not have any comment to make.
Robyn posted about her concerns on The Chase’s social media account where she thanked the show’s production team.
But she added: “I didn’t appreciate Brad calling me ‘a scammer’ though (for laughs I know but some may unkindly think the same now he has planted the seed).
“I understand maybe he thought I didn’t need a chair but I really can’t stand for more than 10 mins or so before my legs may give way.
“I’ve ended up sitting on the floor in my bank when refused a chair when I asked for it.
“I had cancer last year for which I had to fight for surgery and aggressive chemo as at 72 I only had a 15% chance of 5 year survival – they tried to relegate me to palliative care alone and, had I accepted that, I would be dead by now.
“The horrendous chemo kept me cancer free for 10 months but now it is back in my lymph nodes.
“The chemotherapy left me with emphysema and shortness of breath on exertion and weakness in legs and arms as well as some peripheral neuropathy.
“The leaping out of the chair on realising I had won was pure adrenalin rush.”
She added that her health struggle meant she struggled to quickly recall facts so settled on a strategy of passing if she didn’t immediately know.
Robyn continued: “As for my ‘don’t know’ and guessing – many questions I did know the answer to but couldn’t recall in time due to ‘chemo brain’, so I passed to save time.
“I used to be a member of Mensa with IQ of 148/top 2% of population and I read a lot so yes I do know a lot of stuff and have a lot of life experience due to my love of travel and other cultures, but I also know my own current health induced limitations so I chose a lower more achievable target than I had originally intended.
“I’m glad I did it and it really was ‘fun, win or lose’. Now after paying off my debts I have enough of a nest-egg to know I can afford palliative/end of life care when my time comes.
“I don’t want any more treatment due to the damage chemo has already done to my body and as a nurse of 25 years standing I know what death by cancer looks like and am ready for it and have prepared my nearest and dearest for what lies ahead for us and what my wishes are if I die sooner or later than my statistical ‘sell-by date of November 2022’.
“I don’t go out much because of mobility issues and I like to dress up for occasions when I do go out. (I rue the fact so many have no ‘sense of occasion’ when dressing up).
“I do not dwell on the fact I am going to die of cancer in the next year or so (they tell me! – I hope to prove them wrong and live a bit longer and write and publish my children’s books) and I live each day one at a time as best I can and of course marking things off my ‘bucket-list, of which ‘second bite at the cherry with the Chasers’ was one.
“Thank you so much for the opportunity, experience and the cash. But I still think Brad owes me an apology for accusing me of ‘scamming’ you all.
“I am an honest and humble person… thanks to all the people who left me kind comments. Kindness costs nothing. Be nice to each other out there.”
The quizzer, who spoke of her desire to buy a cat before scooping the impressive prize, told followers: “PS I have a moglet kitten – I’ve tried to buy another Van cat but my breeder has ignored my requests.
“I think she doesn’t want to rehome one to a person who will not have them long (Tommy will be looked after by a friend when I’m gone or else go to Cats Protection Guardianship scheme for rehoming).
“Never mind – I have and love my little moggie Tommy-K Vanalike kitten – my companion as I live alone and I thought it would be nice for him to have a Van brother.
“I’m happy with my life – I learned the art of ‘equanimity’ from an online Buddhist retreat last year – Plum Village who I also used to structure my breathing rehab to maintain lung function as it will inevitably get worse with time.
“Equanimity means having a feeling of joy and peace within whatever is going on outside of our bodies …. which is worth far more than £40k to me.
“I would gladly give back the £40k in exchange for being cancer free and being able to breathe and walk/socialise as I could before cancer and covid entered my life.
“Namaste – and thanks for the memories and choices money brings x. Robyn.”
