What’s it like on Tipping Point?
Did you spot me on Tipping Point earlier today?
Tipping Point was the first game show I recorded since Ejector Seat in 2014 and I must admit I was pretty rusty!
The first question I buzzed in for I got wrong: “The name of which dating app can also describe the dry material used to start a fire” – I answered Match, but of course it was Tinder. Ben cheekily went on to comment that as a married woman I wouldn’t know about Tinder anyway… which was edited out!
So I survived round one, but the quick-fire round was a nightmare – I fumbled my answer to the question ‘Members of the species known as homosapiens have got how many legs?’, answering ‘Fo- NO! Two!’ but the producer told Ben to stop talking, and said I had to re-record it giving the answer FOUR! After that, we continued with the quick fire round but by then I was off the pace. I knew it wasn’t going to be my lucky day and I sloped off after round two…
(But after all, even Leonardo DaVinci thought we have 4 legs, right..?)
A few people were tweeting to ask why the questions mentioned President Obama, and Mary Berry on #GBBO – it’s because the show was recorded in May last year! Here’s the timeline – a fast turnaround for the start…
- 4 March 2016 – emailed my application form in
- 7 March 2016 – received an email inviting me to audition
- 10 March 2016 – auditioned in London
- 16 March 2016 – Received shortlist email
- 25 April 2016 – Received email with choice of three recording dates
- 3 May 2016 – Recorded the show in London
- 12 October 2017 – Tipping Point broadcast on TV
After such efficient preparation, the show took a whopping 17 months to actually be broadcast on ITV – although we were told it should be between 6 and 12 months! Such a long delay is really frustrating, because you’re not allowed to appear on another quiz show until at least six months after your Tipping Point has aired – meaning almost 2 years without being able to apply for any shows. Some people ignore this rule though – see this article about Marilyn winning two ITV game shows on the same day!
What’s it like in the Green Room?
On the day of recording, they were filming several shows and we had to arrive at the studio by 2.45pm – our train tickets had been paid for in advance by the production team. One of the biggest pains of going on a game show is that you have to take LOADS of outfits, especially with multiple contestants on the same set. We had to take 5 tops and 2 bottoms – no white, no pastels, no black, no small patterns, etc. I popped into GAP and bought three different colours of the same top – and wasn’t allowed to wear any of them! You can’t wear high heels either (Health & Safety) although my friend Sue reckons height gives you a decent advantage in seeing the counters…
There’s not much time wasted before the show – everyone knows how it works, so there’s no need for a full run-through. We were told to come to the studio with normal make up on, and they add a bit more so it looks good under the studio lights (yes, even for the men!). Feeling nervous? They even have little absorbent underarm pads to prevent sweat patches!
Ben Shephard was funny and made everyone feel at ease, and progress is pretty quick through the rounds. When you lose, you sit and watch the rest of the show from the side of the studio. I had to laugh when I was asked to re-record my wrong answer and Ben said to me afterwards ‘That was great Di, just perfect’! Erm, apart from it being one of the most stupid answers ever you mean, Ben?! Funnily enough I’ve filmed with Ben twice before – on the Lottery show 100 to 1, and also when he helped me to win £500 of shopping vouchers on a Mumsnet & Barclaycard live TV show by scrambling for pairs of shoes in a ball pit (sadly the YouTube evidence of this is long gone!).
Despite feeling disappointed with my performance, every game show is good experience and at least now it’s finally been broadcast I can start applying for other shows!
If you’re tempted to apply for a TV game show after seeing me on the box, check out my Contestant Calls blog post and also How to get on a TV game show!
How to apply for Tipping Point
Tipping Point applications are only open at certain times of the year – keep checking the SRO website for details of future auditions!
I applied in 2019.Had audition in Oxford, then a phone call giving me a date in March 2020 in the studio in Bristol. Lockdown meant it was cancelled.
I expected further communication, but nothing. I have reapplied, but again, apart from a registration number, nothing.Now what do I do? Disappointing
From the messages I’ve had it sounds like their communication with prospective contestants is terrible. Sorry you’ve not had any updates.
I have my written general knowledge quiz and group talk next week for tipping point and was wondering if there’s any advice/prompts you can give me for the bit about me part.. I want to stand out but kind of nervous.
Hi,
Great read! I had my phone call two weeks ago now, at the end they said They’ll be passing into production team. I’ve not heard since do you think I should give up hope?
X
Hi Di,
Great read! I really enjoyed it.
Just wondering what choice of dates did you get for the recording of the show? I want to book a holiday but don’t want it to clash with any recording dates so did they span over a couple of weeks or in the same week? Cheers!!
I received the shortlist email on 16th March and then the three filming dates were emailed to me on 25th April – they were Tues 3, Weds 4 & Thurs 5 May so all the same week. Good luck!
Do the production company let you know when your episode is aired? Waiting to see mine on series 9 and can’t always be watching at 4pm every afternoon to see if I’m on!
Yes they do! They email you a few weeks beforehand.
Really enjoyed hearing your story, thanks for sharing. I’ve recently been to the face to face group audition so am anxiously waiting to see if I get through 🙂 after your face to face audition when were you told? Is that your “shortlist email” after 1 week or the “date selection” email? Thank you 🙂
I auditioned on 10 March and got a shortlist email on the 16 March – then a choice of dates on 25th April.
Hi there, what can I expect from the auditions?
There were about 20-30 people in mine, we did a written quiz and then each had to talk for a minute or so about ourselves! This was over two years ago though so the format may be a bit different now.
Hey just curious do you guys have a day out before the game just because every contestant says thanks I’ve had a lovely day
No! You’re literally sitting in a room with a couple of staff for a couple of hours before the show is recorded – I have no idea why people say they’ve had a lovely/nice/great/wonderful day, ha ha!
I turned 18 last week and appplied for tipping point on my 18th birthday. It has nearly been a week and have not heard anything back from them. Do you get a phone call or an email asking to audition you and how long does it take? Thanks, Alex xx
Hi Di,
You did better than me, I was knocked out in the first round. Still, it was a fun day.
I am just applying for Who Wants to be a Millionaire as they are resurrecting it.
I’ll actually win something on one of these shows one day but I will still keep having fun. The only one I have won anything from was Smarter Than a 10 Year Old. I met you there and on 1 v 100.
Keep playing, enjoying and winning.
Ah Tony – good to hear from you! Are you still applying for other shows? Would be good to meet up again on something!!
I haven’t done a show for a few years but I have started looking around now to see if anything grabs me. I’ve just applied to Millionaire to start the ball rolling. How about you?
Hi Di,
Your episode of tipping point has just been on TVNZ 1 here in New Zealand! Even with your limited clothing choice you looked very pretty. Good luck with future game shows.
Ian
Oh no! Worldwide embarrassment. Thanks Ian – I just got a call from a new UK show today actually!
Awesome a new game show you will have to keep us informed. I imagine it will eventually get on the tv down here. Good luck and hope you win.
So when you’re auditioning what sort of stuff do they ask you in the written quiz?
It’s similar General Knowledge questions to on the show itself.
Ha! You should give it a go Laura! It’s always fun to see friends on telly!
I wonder if the woman who appeared on two shows in a day got to keep her winnings for both? I’ve been to auditions before where a lot of the people there have said that they’ve also been shortlisted for lots of others shows so I’m sure it must happen all the time.
I think so too – particularly with the delay after recording – and also they repeat some shows too! The winning money usually arrives a few weeks after filming and ages before transmission. I think she might be on a couple of ‘blacklists’ for the production companies for both shows though!
If there’s one thing I will always remember about this post, it’s the sweat pads! I’ve always made excuses for not why I’ve not applied for a quiz show, but I guess I’ll have to cross off sweating from that list now!
The first gameshow I was on was the Price is Right and I was soooo nervous, I knew I couldn’t lift my arms up to spin any kind of wheel because of sweat patches (turned out I didn’t even make it off contestant’s row!!!). The ‘wardrobe’ lady at Tipping Point says actresses use the pads all the time!
We watched it yesterday, thought you did really well! I say that from experience as I read your post about applying for TV shows years ago and filmed a show a few weeks ago (I won’t say which one). So thank you!
Ooh exciting – let me know when you’re on TV Liam!