Tipping Point: Ben tells player not to be 'pessimistic'
Tipping Point's Ben Shephard was all smiles while attempting to keep spirits high in the face of adversity on the latest episode of the ITV game show.
During Friday's show, host Ben Shephard welcomed new hopefuls vying for a significant cash prize. John, one of the contestants, breezed through the initial rounds, showcasing not only his good fortune with the arcade-style coin pusher machine but also his strong general knowledge.
However, as the nail-biting final approached, despite having been on a winning streak, John's confidence waned when the coveted star jackpot counter, worth a hefty £10,000, teetered tantalisingly on the edge but refused to fall.
Ben, ever the optimist, tried to reassure an increasingly skeptical John, insisting that victory was still within reach.
As the star counter stubbornly clung to the ledge, and John appeared ready to concede, Ben encouraged him with a hopeful "I don't know, I don't know, it's all connected if we get it flat."
John, doubting the outcome after noticing another counter fall off course, remarked: "That's gone right," reports the Daily Star.
But Ben wouldn't let defeatism take hold, countering with a buoyant "Don't be so pessimistic! Come on now, we need something over the top shelf."
Despite John's hesitance, Ben's optimism proved to be well-founded. Even though the jackpot counter hadn't budged throughout the game, Ben queried whether John would gamble his £4,100 winnings for a shot at £10,000 with three more goes.
John, lacking confidence, insisted he'd rather not risk it, content with the sum he had already secured. However, in a twist of fate, when Ben revealed what could have been, it emerged that John would have clinched the jackpot on his very first additional attempt.
The unexpected outcome left viewers at home seething with frustration. One irate viewer posted: "Why on earth did he not gamble?! Jackpot counter hanging over the edge, a puff of air would have tipped it over?"
Another expressed: "I would be waiting at the door with divorce papers if I was his spouse."
Meanwhile, a third lamented: "If ever there was a situation where taking the trade was a no-brainer, that was it."
Tipping Point airs weekdays at 4pm on ITV1.
