For years, viewers of the hit ITV game show Tipping Point have speculated about the true nature of the iconic counters that cascade through the machine. Host Ben Shephard has now definitively ended the debate with a surprising revelation about their composition.
The Great Counter Mystery Solved
The question emerged from an unlikely source during Ben Shephard's appearance on Richard Osmond's podcast, The Rest is Entertainment. A listener confessed to having engaged in a heated argument with a friend about what the counters were actually constructed from, prompting the host to provide a conclusive answer.
'I can assure you they are plastic, they aren't metal,' Shephard stated unequivocally. He addressed a common misconception among fans, noting, 'We get a lot of people suggesting we use magnets in the machine. I've never yet found a magnet that can control plastic.'
The host further explained the auditory deception that enhances the viewing experience. While the counters themselves are simple plastic discs, the production team adds 'lots of brilliant sound effects that make it sound like they are jingling and jangling down' during post-production editing.
Behind the Scenes of the Hit Game Show
The revelation about the counters' composition sheds new light on the mechanics of the popular programme, which operates similarly to a penny falls arcade game but offers contestants the chance to win up to £10,000. Shephard also detailed the meticulous process of resetting the counters between games to ensure fairness.
'Every time there's a drop, Will comes flying in, I say how many there are, he confirms that by counting them, we do the pickups and then they get taken out and Julie confirms how many are out the back,' Shephard elaborated. This careful counting is crucial because 'everybody gets the exact money' and 'everyone gets competitive.'
The host confirmed that there are precisely 80 counters positioned on the top and lower shelf between games, maintaining consistency throughout the competition.
A Lasting Television Success Story
Since its initial launch in 2012, Tipping Point has established itself as a runaway success for ITV, spanning an impressive 14 seasons and maintaining strong viewer loyalty. The show's popularity shows no signs of waning, with production now underway for a 15th series.
Shephard expressed his enthusiasm about returning to host the programme, sharing on Instagram: 'So excited that we're back baby! In the studio filming series 15 of Tipping Point.' He highlighted the joy of reuniting with 'the machine (when she behaves)' and meeting 'over 200 contestants who came to test their skills and try their luck.'
Former contestant Ross Lannon, a radio presenter and disability blogger who appeared on the show in April 2022, recently shared his positive experience on his blog, A Life On Wheels. Despite waiting over two years for his episode to air, Lannon described the experience as 'amazing' and praised the production team's accommodation of his needs as a wheelchair user.
Lannon offered particular praise for the host, noting: 'Ben Shepherd was really friendly on and off camera.' He concluded, 'I had the best time and I would do it again in a heartbeat.'
Tipping Point continues to air weekdays at 4pm on ITV1 and is available for streaming on ITVX.
