Tipping Point

Tipping Point is a British television game show which began airing on ITV on 2 July 2012, and is presented by Ben Shephard. Contestants answer general knowledge questions to win counters which they use on a large coin pusher arcade-style machine. Only the winner at the end takes home their accumulated money—the rest go home with nothing.

Format
Contestants answer questions to win counters to drop into the coin pusher machine. Counters are worth £50 each (£100 In Celebrity Specials), and the contestant can drop them into their choice of four drop zones, hoping to push piles of other counters off a pair of shelves. The upper shelf moves back and forth over the lower one. The more coins that are subsequently pushed onto a lower red zone (referred to by Shephard as the "win zone"), the more he or she collects and the greater the eventual prize fund. The contestant who accumulates the least amount of money in each round is eliminated until only one contestant remains to play for a jackpot of £10,000 (Increased To A Possible £20.000 In Series 8). The Jackpot Counter In Celebrity Specials Is Worth £20.000. If any counters enter the win zone when not in play (excluding the final round), they are removed from the machine (referred to as an "ambient drop").

Additional "mystery counters" were added in series 2, coloured black and bearing a question mark. Three are present in the machine—two on the upper shelf, and one on the lower—at the start of the game. If any of these counters enter the win zone, the contestant in control of the machine wins a mystery prize (e.g., cases of wine, short holidays, etc.). Two counters marked "×2" (Double Counters) were added in series 5, which double the value of the counters that drop into the win zone. Rather than being removed from the machine, If any of these special counters enter the win zone when not in play they are put back into the machine.

The Double Counters Are Not Present In Celebrity Specials.

A "ghost drop" occurs when the counter placed into the machine slides close enough to the guide that the sliding action wrings the air out from between the counter and guide causing it to stick and stop moving for a very short period of time. As the drop time is critical to the game, a ghost drop can adversely affect the luck and skill of the player. While the contestant aims to get the inserted counter down and flat onto the top shelf (where it will push the other counters further towards the shelf edge), a miss-timed drop or one affected by a ghost drop may land in such a way as it ends up 'riding' on top of a counter already on the shelf. Such a rider rarely pushes any of the counters very far at all such that none drop into the win zone.

Round 1
In Round 1, the four contestants are each given three counters. Questions are then asked and the first to sound their buzzer may answer. In the event of an incorrect answer, one of the contestant's counters goes into a penalty pot. If the contestant answers correctly, they must choose either to play one of their own counters if they feel the machine will pay out or, if they feel the machine won't, may instead nominate an opponent, forcing them to use one of their own counters. In either case, the relevant contestant chooses which of the four drop zones they want to drop a counter down and then presses their buzzer to release the counter into the machine.

At the end of the round, all the counters in the penalty pot are put up for grabs on a final question. If any contestants are tied for last place or all contestants are tied for the lead, a sudden death question is asked, with no counters at stake. If a contestant answers correctly, they move on to the next round, but if they answer incorrectly, they are eliminated.

There Is No Elimination At The End Of This Round In Celebrity Specials Because They Only Have 3 Contestants So The Contestant In Last Place Is Allowed To Play In Round 2.

Round 2
In Round 2, whoever is in the lead of the three remaining contestants (or if there is a tie, whoever was first to give a correct answer) decides the order of play. In turn, each contestant is given 30 seconds of rapid-fire general knowledge questions, with each correct answer earning one counter. When the time is up, the contestants use their accumulated counters to try to win more money in the machine by moving counters over the Tipping Point. As before, If any contestants are tied for last place or all contestants are tied for the lead, a sudden death question is asked to determine which contestant is eliminated. In Celebrity Specials The Contestant In Last Place Is Eliminated At This Point.

Round 3
In Round 3, the two remaining contestants are asked six questions alternately, three to each contestant. A contestant can opt to answer the question themselves or, if they feel they don't know the answer, can pass it to their opponent. A correct answer gives control of the counter to the contestant, while a wrong answer hands control to their opponent. Whoever is in the lead at the end of the game wins. If the contestants are tied, a sudden death question is asked to determine a winner.

Final round
In the final round, the winning contestant is given a jackpot counter (a larger silver-coloured counter with a red star), which is dropped into the machine. The aim is to get the counter back out of the machine in order to win £10,000 (Increased To A Possible £20.000 In Series 8) And £20.000 In Celebrity Specials. The contestant is given six categories of questions and can answer the questions in any order. Prior to being asked the question, the contestant elects how many counters to play for and the difficulty of the question. An easy question is worth one counter, a medium question worth two or a hard question worth three. A correct answer gives the contestant the number of counters they nominated but a wrong answer means that they lose the number of counters they went for.

Any counters which drop in the process of trying to get the jackpot counter are worth £50 apiece. This also includes ambient drops, which are no longer voided. If the contestant manages to remove the jackpot counter, their winnings are augmented to £10,000 regardless of the other counters dropping into the machine. From Series 5 To 7 the double counters Were not included with the jackpot so even if they dropped at the same time, the jackpot counter Was not doubled. This was changed for Series 8 and if a Double counter dropped with the jackpot counter at the same time the contestant would win £20.000 instead of £10.000.?.. not now. No doubling the jackpot

If the contestant uses all six categories and fails to remove the jackpot counter, they can choose whether to keep the money they have accumulated or gamble on three more counters. And it is a sleeping counter.

Taking The Money
If the contestant isn’t risky and decides to take the accumulated money, (from series 2 onwards) providing the jackpot counter is on the bottom shelf, the three trade counters will still be played to check if it was the right decision. If alll three counters are used up and the jackpot counter hasn’t dropped, the contestant made the “right decision”. If the jackpot counter drops before all three counters are used up, the contestant could’ve won £10,000.

However, If the counter is still in the top shelf at the end of the round, then there is no need to check if the gamble was the right decision, as most likely the counters wouldn't be enough to push the jackpot counter over the tipping point.

Taking The Trade
If the contestant decides to trade everything that they’ve earned, they can do so for 3 last counters. Their money is then set to £0 and nothing else in the machine will have any value. If the contestant successfully gets the jackpot counter out of the machine, their win is augmented to £10,000. Failing to do so will leave the contestant going home empty-handed.

Celebrity Specials
A Celebrity version of the show starting airing on ITV in June 2013 under the name of Tipping Point Lucky Stars.

The Celebrity Specials Feature Some Changes From Regular Episodes

1-There Are Only Three Contestants Rather Than Four

2-Each Contestant Is Playing For A Nominated Charity

3-All of the counters (including the Jackpot counter) are worth double their value.

Normal and Mystery counters Are doubled from £50 to £100 and the Jackpot counter Is doubled from £10,000 to £20,000.

4-There Is A Live Studio Audience Rather Than A Audience With Canned Laughter

5-In the final round if the contestant takes the trade but loses the contestant still gets £1.000 for their chosen charity.

6-To compensate for the presence of only three contestants the person in last place after round 1 continues to play into round 2.

7-The losing contestant after rounds 2 and 3 still takes home the money they have accumulated for their chosen charity.

If A Contestant fails to get any money an undisclosed donation is made to their chosen charity

8-Mystery counters now give smaller prizes or A Cash Bonus Of £100 For The Contestant's Chosen Charity and occasionally give a mystery question about the player giving him or her the chance to Drop Another Bonus counter into the machine If They Get It Correct.

Text Santa Christmas Specials
Two Special Celebrity Episodes of the show were aired in December 2014 And 2015 to raise money For ITV's Charitable appeal Text Santa.

These specials featured 4 Celebrity contestants instead of 3 as in regular Celebrity Specials so one of them would be eliminated at the end of round 1.

Rather Than Each Celebrity Giving their winnings to their chosen charity All money won in these episodes went to the UK Charities which were being supported by Text Santa ITV's Christmas Charitable Appeal.

Regular Series
1-2 July 2012 27 July 2012 20 Series 1 was aired at 5.00 P.M. rather than 4.00 P.M. because it was a fill-in show for The Chase when it went off for its summer break.

The other replacement at 5.00 P.M. following this was Don't Blow The Inheritance.

2-2 January 2013 25 February 2013 39 40 episodes were commissioned but one was left unaired

3-20 May 2013 20 November 2013 70 Series 3 took breaks from 1 July-6 September,28 October-1 November and 11-19 November 2013

4 17 February 2014 29 August 2014 70 Series 4 took breaks from Monday 28 April-Friday 6 June 2014 and Tuesday 10 June 2014-Friday 1 August 2014

The Show's Second Long Summer Break Was Because Of ITV Showing Live Coverage Of The FIFA World Cup As They Would Have Had To Keep Taking The Program Off.

The 25 August 2014 Episode Was Moved To 3.40 P.M. Rather Than Airing At 4 O'Clock As It Was A Bank Holiday And Because Of This Gift Wrapped (Which Was Standing In For The Chase At 5.00 P.M. When The Chase Went Off For It's Summer Break) Aired At 4.40 P.M. Rather Than At 5.00 P.M.

No Episode Was Aired On 21 April 2014 Because Of Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets Being Aired On ITV From 3.00 P.M. Until 5.35 P.M. Due To It Being The April Bank Holiday.

The Cancelled Episode Was Rescheduled And Was Aired At 4.00 P.M. On Monday 9 June 2014.

5 5 January 2015 4 December 2015 125 The First 50 Episodes Were Aired At 3.00 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Other Programs Were Being Aired In It's Place At 4.00 P.M. For 10 Weeks.

Series 5 Took Breaks From Monday 16 March 2015-Friday 27 March 2015,Monday 4 May 2015-Friday 4 September 2015 And Monday 9 November 2015-Friday 20 November 2015.

The First 50 Episodes Of Series 5 Were Moved To And Aired At 3.00 P.M. Because Of Other Programs Being Aired In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot For 10 Weeks.

They Were Slimmer Pets Loser Of The Year From 5 January To 9 January 2015,The Talk Show Mel And Sue From 12 January To 20 February 2015 And The Quiz Show 1000 Heartbeats.

The Show Moved Back To It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot On 30 March 2015.

The 3 April 2015 Episode Was Aired At 4.30 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being Good Friday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back By 30 Minutes.

The 6 April 2015 Episode Was Aired At 4.30 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being Easter Monday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back By 30 Minutes.

No Episode Was Aired On Wednesday 23 September 2015 Because Of The Rugby Union As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Rugby World Cup Game Between Scotland And Japan From 1.45 P.M.-4.30 P.M.

No Episode Was Aired On Thursday 24 September 2015 Because A Extra Episode Of Who's Doing The Dishes? Was Aired At 4.00 P.M.

This Was To Make Up For The Cancelled Wednesday 23 September 2015 Episode Which Was Not Aired Because Of The Rugby As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Rugby World Cup Game Between Scotland And Japan From 1.45 P.M. (2.15 P.M Kickoff).

No Episode Was Aired On Thursday 1 October 2015 Because Of The Rugby As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Rugby World Cup Game Between Wales And Fiji From 4.00 P.M.-6.30 P.M.

No Episode Was Aired On Wednesday 7 October 2015 Because Of The Rugby As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Rugby World Cup Game Between South Africa And United States From 4.00 P.M. To 6.30 P.M.

No Episode Was Aired On Friday 16 October 2015 Because A Repeat Of A Episode Of Series 2 Was Shown In It's Place At 4.00 P.M.

6-7 December 2015 21 October 2016 149 Series 6 Took Breaks From 18 December 2015 To 1 January 2016 And 23 May 2016-26 August 2016

No Repeat On Wednesday 13 July 2016 Because Of A ITV News Bulletin Special As ITV Aired A Special To Cover The Inauguration Of The New British Prime Minister Theresa May Which Was Aired In It's Place At 4.00 P.M.

The 25 March 2016 Episode Was Aired At 4.25 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being Good Friday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back By 25 Minutes.

The 28 March 2016 Episode Was Aired At 4.30 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being Easter Monday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back By 30 Minutes.

The 2 May 2016 Episode Was Aired At 4.30 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being The May Day Bank Holiday And Other Programmed Pushed It Back By 30 Minutes.

7 2 January 2017 10 November 2017 150 Series 7 Took A Break From Monday 2 June 2017-Friday 1 September 2017

The 2 January 2017 Episode Was Aired At The Later Time Of 4.45 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because It Was The New Year's Bank Holiday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back 45 Minutes.

No Episode Was Aired On Friday 20 January 2017 Because A ITV News Special To Mark The Inauguration Of The New President Of The United States Donald Trump Was Aired In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot.

No Episodes Were Aired From Tuesday 14 March 2017 To Friday 17 March 2017 Because Of The Horse Racing As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Cheltenham Festival In It's Place.

Celebrity Home Secrets Was Aired At 4.30 P.M. In Part Of It's Usual Slot.

No Episode Was Aired On Wednesday 22 March 2017 Because It Was Cancelled At The Very Last Minute As ITV Aired A News Special  Cover The Latest From The Situation At Westminster And The Aftermath Following A Shooting Outside The House Of Commons Earlier On In The Afternoon On That Day Was Aired From 4.00 P.M.

The Cancelled Episode Was Rescheduled And Was Aired At 11.15 P.M. On The Following Day Thursday 23 March 2017.

This Meant That There Was Two Episodes That Day.

No Episodes Were Aired On Tuesday 6 April 2017 And Friday 7 April 2017 Because Of The Horse Racing As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The Grand National In It's Place From 2.00 P.M. On Both Days.

The Friday 14 April 2017 Episode Was Aired At 4.25 P.M. Instead Of In It's Usual 4.00 P.M. Slot Because Of It Being Good Friday And Other Programmes Pushed It Back 25 Minutes.

8 8 January 2018 150

Series Start Date End Date Episodes Notes
1 9 June 2013 25 August 2013 12

2 2 July 2014 23 August 2014 8

3 15 October 2016 3 December 2016 8

4 3 September 2017 29 October 2017 8 No Episode Was Aired On Sunday 8 October 2017 Because Of The Football As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The European Qualifiers Game For The FIFA World Cup Between England And Lithuania From 4.30 P.M. (5.00 P.M. Kickoff).

The First 2 Episodes Of Series 4 Were Aired At The Earlier Time Of 6.00 P.M. Rather Than In It's Usual 7.00 P.M. Slot Because Of A Hour Long Episode Of Coronation Street Being Aired At 7.00 P.M. On Both Of Those Days.

This Was Because Of Cancelled Episodes That Had To Be Made Up For Because Of The Football As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of England's World Cup Qualifiers Against Malta And Slovakia From 7.15 P.M. On Friday 1 September 2017 And Monday 4 September 2017 So Those Days Episodes Were Cancelled.

No Episode Was Aired On Sunday 8 October 2017 Because Of The Football As ITV Showed Live Coverage Of The European Qualifiers Game For The FIFA World Cup Between England And Lithuania From 4.30 P.M. (5.00 P.M. Kickoff).

Because Of This Episode 6 Of Series 4 Was Moved Back A Week.

Episode Aired
1 19 December 2014

2 18 December 2015