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 credited toward that contestant's score.

Three "mystery counters" were added in series 2, each labelled with a question mark; at the start of the game, two are on the upper shelf and one is on the lower. If a mystery counter enters the win zone, the contestant in control of the machine wins a prize (monthly flower bouquets, weekend holiday, etc.), which is theirs to keep regardless of the game's final outcome. Two "double counters" labelled "x2" were added in series 5, one each on the upper and lower shelves, which double the value of all counters that land in the win zone on that same drop. If both double counters fall in a single drop, the total value is quadrupled. Starting with series 9, the mystery and double counters are respectively coloured green and yellow, so that they can be easily distinguished from the others in the machine.

Counters that enter the win zone when the machine is not in play, excluding the final round, are "ambient drops" and are removed from the machine with no effect on scoring. If such a drop occurs after a contestant has chosen a drop zone but before they can press 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, until 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, adversely affecting the contestant's turn.

At the end of each round, the lowest-scoring contestant 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 miss eliminates them. If three or more contestants are tied for low score, or if all contestants are tied, the toss-ups continue until either one has been eliminated or all but one have advanced.

If a contestant is visually impaired, they are allowed to have a helper stationed backstage, who can see the machine and give advice through an audio earpiece as to where and when to play each counter. The helper may not assist in answering questions.

The title-card for the Lucky Stars series.

A series of 12 celebrity episodes under the title Tipping Point: Lucky Stars aired on ITV, beginning on 9 June 2013. The programme was shown in a primetime slot. Three further series were then aired, in the summer of 2014, the autumn of 2016 and the autumn of 2017. A Christmas special aired in December 2018, ahead of a fifth series in summer 2019. The sixth series commenced in Autumn 2020 and a Christmas Special aired in December 2020.

The celebrity episodes feature some changes to the ordinary format:

1. Each contestant plays on behalf of a selected charity.
2. All cash values are doubled: £100 for normal and mystery counters, and £20,000 for recovering the jackpot counter.
3. Double counters are not present in the machine.
4. Mystery counters award either a small joke prize, a cash bonus (not counted in the scoring), or a question about the playing contestant that allows them to play another counter by giving a correct answer.
5. All three contestants play the first two rounds.
6. In Round 2, the time limit is 30 seconds rather than 45 seconds, except for the 2021 Soccer Aid special.
7. The losing contestants after rounds 2 and 3 still take home the money they have accumulated for their chosen charities. If a contestant is eliminated with a total of zero, a donation is still made to his or her charity.
8. In the final round, if the contestant trades the money in but loses, his or her charity still receives £1,000.
9. Episodes recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic were recorded before a live audience, instead of using canned applause as in the regular series.

Tipping Point: Best Ever Finals is a half hour spin-off that is shown at times when the regular series is neither shown nor repeated (e.g. during ITV horse racing coverage). The programme showcases the best and most dramatic jackpot finales from previous daytime series of Tipping Point. The second series also included some dramatic jackpot final rounds from previous series 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.[3][4][5] For a brief period in January 2021, episodes also aired in prime time, at 7:30 pm Saturdays.[6]
• 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.[7] An electronic board game based on the show was released in 2015 by John Adams under its Ideal Games brand.[8][9] 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