Tipping Point viewers were firmly behind Marco after the personal trainer dominated much of Monday’s episode, but his hopes of winning the jackpot were ultimately crushed when the machine refused to cooperate in the final round.
Host Ben Shephard had been rooting for the frontrunner throughout the game, but even he could only watch as Marco’s last few coins repeatedly fell in the wrong place.
Marco takes control early
Tipping Point hopeful Marco was bested by the machine despite having such a strong start (Image: ITV)
Tipping Point frotnrunner (Image: ITV)
Four contestants faced off on the ITV quiz show, all hoping to reach the final and take home the jackpot.
Marco quickly established himself as the player to beat, banking £1,200 during the opening round. The personal trainer also showed that he was willing to take risks, deliberately choosing Drop Zone One despite describing it as looking “sparse”.
His gamble paid off, leaving him comfortably ahead after the first section.
Shabnam followed with £450, Nick had £400, while Ali finished with £300 and became the first contestant to leave the competition.
Marco continued to look strong in the second round. He passed the opportunity to Shabnam, putting her in the firing line, and she eventually became the second player eliminated.
Nick then mounted a challenge, finishing with £1,350. However, Marco’s quick answers kept him ahead, and he reached the end of the round with £2,000.
WATCH HERE: Episode 146 – Tipping Point (Series 11, Episode 146) – Apple TV (UK)
The jackpot slips away
Tipping Point hopeful Marco ended up taking the cash amount after the machine went against him (Image: ITV)
Tipping Point host Ben has been presenting on TV for years (Image: ITV)
With only the final round standing between Marco and the jackpot, his confidence was high.
But the machine quickly became his biggest obstacle.
Marco selected Drop Zone Two in an attempt to get the jackpot counter moving, only for his coins to repeatedly fall on the wrong side of the machine.
There were moments when it appeared the jackpot might finally cascade down, but the promising drops failed to produce the breakthrough he needed.
Watching the final round unfold, Ben Shephard acknowledged how well Marco had played but admitted that the machine simply had not gone his way.
“He played a great game; he just couldn’t really get the jackpot moving in that last round,” the host said.
“The machine didn’t want us to have it.”
Instead of the jackpot, Marco walked away with a total cash prize of £3,550.
Viewers back Marco despite the disappointment
Marco had already won over viewers during the earlier rounds, with several taking to Twitter to support him as he progressed through the game.
Steve Actual wrote: “I like Marco, I hope he wins the jackpot #tippingpoint.”
Another viewer, @MrEvilSkeletor, was equally invested in Marco’s progress, commenting: “It’s going great so far #TippingPoint.”
Even after Marco failed to secure the jackpot, Juggy Belcher supported his decision to take the money, writing: “Took the dosh, good call #tippingpoint.”
Others were quick to notice that Drop Zone Two was proving particularly troublesome for him. @ManBulls*** commented: “Drop Zone Two? You’ve blown it pal. #TippingPoint.”
The episode also prompted some less enthusiastic reactions to the show’s lengthy conversations. Scammell Routeman joked: “I couldn’t go on #tippingpoint I wouldn’t be able to think up enough waffle.”
Barry Davies was even more critical, describing the drawn-out gameplay as “the biggest waste of time in game show history”.
Marco reveals how he will spend his winnings
Although the jackpot escaped him, Marco still left the show with £3,550.
The contestant revealed that he planned to use the money to help his brother, including paying to rent suits for the groomsmen and ushers. Any money remaining would go towards a deposit for a property.
For a player who had looked destined for a major win earlier in the episode, the final result was undoubtedly frustrating—but Marco still walked away with a substantial cash prize after an impressive run through the competition.
Tipping Point airs weekdays at 4pm on ITV.