A Tipping Point contestant was left frustrated after Ben Shephard appeared to give him the wrong impression during a tense final round, only for the host to admit he had “got carried away” with his prediction.
Simon had battled through three other contestants to reach the final, where he had built a bank of £1,550. With the chance to take home the £10,000 jackpot, he was determined to make the most of his remaining counters.
But a comment from Ben during the crucial stage of the game appeared to raise Simon’s hopes before they came crashing back down.
Ben Shephard annoys Tipping Point player over final round mistake: ‘You said it wasn’t!’ (Image: ITV)
Tipping Point contestant Simon was hoping to win the star counter (Image: ITV)
Simon Takes Aim at the Star Counter
Before continuing with the machine, Simon was asked a question about food and drink, with three possible answers: Korean, Chinese and Thai.
Ben asked: “Described as spicy and sour, from which Asian cuisine does the side dish kimchi originate?”
Simon selected Korean and was rewarded with three additional counters after giving the correct answer.
He then continued playing, choosing Drop Zone Four because he believed it offered his best opportunity to reach the valuable star counter.
After using another counter, Simon moved across to Drop Zone Three for his final play.
It was at this point that Ben made a prediction that would soon come back to haunt him.
The presenter appeared confident that the counter would not become a “rider” — the term used when one counter lands on top of another instead of pushing further towards the edge.
Ben seemed convinced Simon had made a good move and that the remaining counter would continue its progress.
But that wasn’t what happened.
“Ben, You Said It Wasn’t a Rider!”
The counter landed as a rider, leaving Simon visibly disappointed.
Turning to Ben, he pointed out the mistake, saying: “Ben, you said it wasn’t a rider!”
Ben immediately acknowledged what had happened and admitted he had become too confident in his prediction.
“I’m getting carried away,” the host said.
“That’s a shame,” he added as Simon continued with the game.
Despite the setback, Simon managed to increase his bank to £2,550.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to push the star counter over the edge, meaning he would not automatically take home the £10,000 jackpot.
Simon Walks Away With £2,550
With the main game over, Ben gave Simon another decision to make.
He could either risk his accumulated winnings by playing three more counters in another attempt to win the star prize, or accept the £2,550 he had already secured and walk away.
Simon chose to take the money.
A simulation of what would have happened next, however, delivered a painful twist.
Had Simon played the additional three counters, he would have managed to knock the star counter over and win the £10,000 jackpot.
Ben could barely believe the outcome and put his head in his hands after discovering how close Simon had come to the bigger prize.
Simon, however, appeared relatively content with his decision and was happy to leave with more than £2,000.
Viewers Feel the Pain for Simon
The dramatic ending prompted plenty of reactions from viewers watching at home.
One viewer wrote: “Oh my God. No way. Gutted for Simon, how frustrating #tippingpoint.”
Another reacted: “Whoops, he would have been going home with £10,000 #tippingpoint.”
Others praised Simon personally, with one viewer commenting: “Simon seemed really nice #tippingpoint.”
Another joked about Ben’s reaction, comparing his delivery to a scene from The Inbetweeners.
One particularly enthusiastic viewer even admitted they had been rooting for Simon throughout the episode, writing that he was “a handsome man” and that they had been wishing him luck.
In the end, Simon left with £2,550 rather than the £10,000 jackpot — but his near miss ensured the final moments of the episode were anything but straightforward.
Tipping Point airs on weekdays at 4pm on ITV.