The Chase star who died before episode airs makes amazing gesture from beyond grave

Retired headteacher from Tyldesley, Greater Manchester, has sadly died just a month after winning a £100,000 jackpot on the popular ITV quiz show The Chase - but he had one special gesture waiting for his family and friends when the episode aired.

Tim McCarthy, 64, died in July following a long battle with illness. His wife, Rachel McCarthy, later revealed that Tim had been diagnosed with a terminal condition prior to filming the show and knew he had only a limited time left to live, knowing that he wouldn't be around long enough to see his own episode air.

Despite his prognosis, Tim chose to take part in the show, recording his episode several months before his passing. Under the programme’s strict confidentiality agreement, he was unable to share the outcome of the episode publicly.

READ MORE: The Chase contestant dies one month after winning £100k jackpot

READ MORE: Anne Hegerty reveals truth behind Mark Labbett's Celebs Go Dating candle gaffe

This meant that none of his friends knew that he had gone on to win the £100,000 jackpot, leaving behind a legacy for his family before his death.

“Only myself and our three children knew he had won,” Rachel told the BBC, explaining how the family had quietly celebrated his extraordinary success in private.

A crowd of friends and family packed into a Manchester pub last night to watch Tim episode of The Chase, unaware of the result he had sadly taken to the grave.

Taking to social media after the emotional night while watching Tim beat The Chaser, one of his old friends revealed that before his death, Tim had put money behind the bar in his local pub for everyone who tuned in to watch the episode together.

Tim's pal explained: "Was a friend of Tim’s for over a decade, and watched it last night in one of his locals from when he’d been working down in Sussex. He’d even put money behind the bar so people could have a drink when it aired. Emotional day, celebrating a wonderful bloke."

The Chase contestant, who died in July after a terminal illness, appeared alongside teammates Lorcan, Shirin, and Julie in the high-stakes game against Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan.

Lorcan added £5,000 to the team’s total, but both Shirin and Julie were knocked out during their individual rounds. Despite a shaky start with just £1,000 earned in the cash builder, Tim took a bold leap in his head-to-head, choosing the highest offer of £95,000.

Against the odds, he beat the Chaser, securing a staggering £100,000 total for the team.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads .