Tipping Point (game show)

The machine consists of two shelves filled with flat circular counters; the upper shelf slowly extends and retracts, whilst the lower one is stationary. The rear face of the machine is divided into four drop zones, each of which contains a pegboard similar to those found in pachinko machines. Contestants answer questions to win counters, then choose a drop zone and press their buzzer to release one counter at a time into that zone. The goal is to have the counters land flat on the upper shelf so that its retraction will cause them to push other counters over its front edge, leading them in turn to push still others off the lower shelf and into a collection trough referred to as the "win zone". Contestants win £50 for each counter that drops into the win zone during their turn. Any counters that bounce out of the machine and land on either the floor or the lip of the win zone during a turn are still credited toward that contestant's score.

Three "mystery counters" were introduced in Series 2, each labelled with a question mark. If one mystery counter enters the win zone, the contestant in control of the machine wins one prize (e.g. monthly flower bouquets, weekend holiday) which is theirs to keep regardless of the game's final outcome; if more than one mystery counter falls on the same drop, the contestant wins a prize for each of them (two prizes if two of them drop or three prizes if all three of them drop). Two "double counters" were introduced in Series 5, each labelled "x2". If one double counter enters the win zone, all counters falling on that same drop are scored for double value (£100 each); if both double counters fall on the same drop, the total is quadrupled (£200 each). As of Series 9, the mystery and double counters are respectively coloured green and yellow to more easily distinguish them from the others in the machine. Typically, the game begins with one counter of each type on the lower shelf and the other ones on the upper shelf.

Counters that enter the win zone when the machine is not in play are "ambient drops" and are removed from the machine with no effect on scoring (except in the Final). If such a drop occurs after a contestant has chosen a drop zone but before they have pressed the buzzer to release a counter, they are given the option to play from that zone or select a different one. Any mystery or double counters that fall into the win zone as an ambient drop are put back in the machine as near as possible to the position they occupied before falling.

A "ghost drop" occurs when a counter drifts forward as it falls through a drop zone and its face makes contact with the clear plastic sheet covering the front of the zone. The resulting friction can greatly slow the counter or even stop its descent altogether for a very short period of time. Ghost drops, mistimed drops and unexpected bounces can lead to a counter landing on the upper shelf so that it partially overlaps or "rides" on others; such plays rarely trigger falls into the win zone and can adversely affect a contestant's turn.

In Series 1 to 11, with four contestants per episode, the lowest-scoring contestant at the end of each round is eliminated from the game and forfeits all their money. In the event of a tie for low score, a sudden-death toss-up is used to break the tie. A correct buzz-in answer allows the contestant to advance while a wrong answer eliminates them. If more than two contestants are tied for low score, the toss-ups continue until either one has been eliminated or all but one have advanced. As of Series 12, with three contestants per episode, eliminations occur only at the end of Rounds 2 and 3.

Contestants who are blind or visually-impaired are allowed to have a helper stationed backstage, who can see the machine on a monitor and give advice through an audio earpiece as to where and when to play each counter. However, the helper may not assist in answering the questions.

The title-card for the Lucky Stars series.

A series of celebrity episodes under the title Tipping Point: Lucky Stars airing on ITV where celebrities are playing on behalf of a selected charity. The programme is broadcast in a primetime slot.

The celebrity episodes feature some changes to the ordinary format:

1. All cash values are doubled (normal and mystery counters are worth £100 and the jackpot is £20,000) (except for the Soccer Aid Specials).
2. There are no double counters in the machine (except for the Soccer Aid Specials).
3. Mystery counters award either a joke prize (e.g. a Tipping Point themed T-shirt, a Tipping Point themed backpack), a cash bonus or a question relevant to the contestant in control that allows them to play a bonus counter by giving the correct answer. In the Soccer Aid Specials, the prizes are donations to help people in need and the counters have the Soccer Aid logo on them instead of the question mark.
4. The time limit in Round 2 is 30 seconds (except for the Soccer Aid Specials).
5. The contestants who don’t make it to the Final still take home the money they have accumulated for their chosen charities and even if a contestant is eliminated with a total of £0, a donation is still made to their charity.
6. In the Final, if the contestant takes the trade at the end but fails, their charity still receives £1,000.
7. All episodes (except ones filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic) have a live audience.

Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals is a half hour spin-off that is shown at times when the Regular or Lucky Stars episodes are neither first broadcast nor repeated (e.g. during ITV Horse Racing coverage). The programme showcases the best and most dramatic finales from previous episodes of Regular Tipping Point and as of Series 2, they also included some dramatic finales from previous episodes of the primetime celebrity spin-off Tipping Point: Lucky Stars.

• Australia – the Nine Network first broadcast the regular series on 2 December 2019. Episodes air at 3:00 pm weekdays (except in Western Australia where it airs at 4:00 pm weekdays) in direct competition with rival ITV-produced game show The Chase on the Seven Network. A repeat of the same day's episode is shown sometime after midnight the following day.[1][2][3] For a brief period in January 2021, episodes also aired in prime time, at 7:30 pm Saturdays.[4]
• Ireland – Virgin Media Two airs episodes Monday to Friday at 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
• New Zealand – TVNZ airs episodes of the original British version as well as its celebrity Lucky Stars counterpart Monday to Saturday at 10:00am and Monday to Friday at 3:00pm.

The official Tipping Point app for iOS was released by Barnstorm Games on 30 March 2014. The Android version was later released on 3 April 2014.[5] An electronic board game based on the show was released in 2015 by John Adams under its Ideal Games brand.[6][7] Another Tipping Point app was released in 2020 called Tipping Point Blast!

• Tipping Point at IMDb
• Tipping Point on Twitter
• Tipping Point at UKGameshows.com