ITV Recommissions “Tipping Point” for Second Series
ITV’s surprise daytime hit game show Tipping Point is coming back for a second series. BroadcastNow reports that the network has ordered an extended second edition of the quiz game based on “penny drop” arcade games. Forty 60 minute episodes will air sometime in 2013. Hosted by Ben Shephard, the 20 episode first series averaged two million viewers and a 15% share. ITV factual and daytime commissioner Diana Howie ordered the show, along with director of factual and daytime Alison Sharman, and said to BroadcastNow, “We are delighted with the success of the first series of Tipping Point and are very much looking forward to bringing viewers a second extended series.”
Tipping Point sees contestants answer questions to earn chips to drop down the large coin drop machine. Any coins that fall off the “tipping point” earn that person cash. Eventually one contestant will remain and try to push the jackpot disc off the “tipping point” to earn a £10,000 jackpot. Take a look at the show below.
I was initially pretty rough on the show, but the more I’ve read and seen, I can understand why it worked. It’s vastly different than anything else on the air, has a great set piece, and works pretty well. I still think it’s a bit too serious in tone and the actual game mechanics could use some ironing out, not to mention some bonus discs thrown into the machine would do a boring second half wonders, but it’s always glad to see any genre show succeed so we look forward to the next series.
Source : BroadcastNow
Well Alex, like you I was skepticle about this show. I saw a few episodes and it was OK but I didn’t think it would last. But looking at those numbers, i’m not too surprised that ITV decided to renew this.
Why can’t we get shows like these here in the states, the UK knows how to creat good programming. Granted they had a few flops but they know how to do it right. Now if just some of these producers here in the states can take note from those in the UK, we could see some more quality shows like these instead of the stuff they air currently.
Yay! I’m so happy about this. I think this game has good bones, and I hope they add enough new elements to alleviate some of the repetitiveness that people complain about. Only a couple of the 20 shows were obvious runaways, and Wheel and J! have those kinds of games, but the format seems to be more prone to it, with fewer chips as the game goes on.
The concepts of the first two rounds are fine. The only thing I think needs to happen is to do Round 3 a little differently, because if the gap between the two players is about £800 or more, it’s hardly worth playing the round at all.
I heard someone previously suggest “steal” or “bankrupt” chips, or, in the alternative, “free turn” chips, which would allow another turn if the chip lands in the “pay” zone — but I think I’d use them only in Round 3.
Alex, just one discrepancy … You say 40 new episodes in the second series, and Wikipedia says 35. I don’t know the Wikipedia contributor’s identity or source.
And broadcast dates of December 3 to January 4.