Tipping Point host Ben Shephard was left astonished after contestant Colin pulled off an extraordinary counter drop that set a new record for the ITV quiz show, sending 22 counters tumbling into the machine and instantly boosting his winnings to £1,100.
The gardener’s remarkable moment unfolded during Thursday’s episode, when his impressive general knowledge and a spectacular turn of luck combined to leave his fellow contestants cheering in disbelief.
Joining Colin on the show were Daniel, an engineering student, Sue, a retired school secretary, and Jess, a makeup artist. All four players began the competition with three counters each, which they could choose to play or pass on after answering questions correctly.
(Image: ITV)
Colin Gets Off to a Strong Start
The game began with Jess answering the opening question correctly before passing her turn to Daniel. He selected Drop Zone Three, but his attempt failed to release any counters.
Colin soon had his first opportunity to make an impression when the next question asked: “A common phrase used to describe something with an unexpected or unpleasant end is a sting in the what?”
He quickly buzzed in with the correct answer, “tail,” and decided to play his turn. Choosing Drop Zone Three, he sent his counter into the machine, although nothing fell.
Colin couldn’t believe his luck(Image: ITV)
His next opportunity came with a question about Cape Town, asking which African country was home to the major port city.
Colin answered “South Africa” correctly and once again selected Drop Zone Three. He then passed the opportunity to Sue, who also opted for the same drop zone.
However, it was Colin’s next correct answer that transformed the game.
Record-Breaking Drop Leaves Ben Shephard Stunned
Ben congratulated Colin on his incredible stroke of luck(Image: ITV)
The contestants were asked: “The daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton shares her name with which Premier League football club?”
Colin immediately supplied the answer: “Chelsea.”
Having secured another correct response, he chose to play again and returned to Drop Zone Three.
This time, the machine delivered an extraordinary result. A huge cluster of counters cascaded down, with an astonishing 22 counters crossing the tipping point in one go.
The other contestants could barely contain their excitement, reacting with exclamations of “Oh wow!” and “Oh my goodness, Colin!”
Ben Shephard was equally impressed as he acknowledged the significance of the moment.
“Colin, that’s an amazing, amazing drop,” the presenter said. “That’s 22 counters that have just fallen across the tipping point, and that’s a new Tipping Point record.”
The spectacular move immediately transformed Colin’s position in the competition, putting him well ahead of his rivals.
“Look at that, £1,100, that’s put you way in the league, and one of the prizes is a flying lesson!” Ben added.
Viewers React to Colin’s Incredible Run
Colin’s performance also caught the attention of viewers watching at home, with several taking to social media to comment on his remarkable run.
One viewer joked about the timing of their discovery, writing: “Bit late to the party. Looks like Colin had a jammy 1 then!”
Another quipped that the other contestants might soon need to borrow counters from Colin if his winning streak continued.
“Colin flying through those questions,” another viewer observed, while a fourth predicted that the gardener could go on to win the competition.
Colin’s combination of quick answers and an exceptional drop had certainly made him the contestant to watch as the game continued.
Tipping Point airs on weekdays on ITV at 4pm.