5 MINUTES WITH...

BEN SHEPARD

It has been a decade since ITV quiz show Tipping Point first landed on our screens. Hosted by Ben Shephard, the counter-dropping concept puts contestants’ general knowledge to the test in a bid to win an elusive jackpot. Ahead of the new series hitting our screens, we sat down with Shephard, 47, to learn more about the show, the past decade in television and his ability to “get away with murder”.

IT’S A BIG MILESTONE, DID YOU EXPECT THE SHOW TO TAKE OFF IN THE WAY THAT IT DID?

If you had asked me back when it started, I would have said that’s completely bonkers. How could you do anything for 10 years? I’ve done amazing shows that didn’t come back after one series, let alone one that’s made it through to 12 series. So, I will never take for granted the opportunity that I was given to host this magical, amazing show that people still seem to be loving 10 years later.

HAS THE SHOW’S SUCCESS SURPRISED YOU?

It’s woven into the fabric of people’s lives. I’ve had so many messages from people – over lockdown particularly, and I think it’s suddenly then that you realise how important something like Tipping Point is to people. My parents, we couldn’t get to see them, they were on their own, and their bit of joy during the day was watching Tipping Point and cheering the contestants on. Moments like that, you just can’t underestimate how powerful that is for us.

THERE’S A NOSTALGIC ELEMENT TO IT TOO, ISN’T THERE?

The lucky thing for us with our machine is that people know and love a penny falls machine. Not only have we all got a history of playing one as a kid at the end of a pier somewhere, but we’ve created one that’s three metres by three metres and gives out tens of thousands of pounds – rather than two pence coins and a dodgy watch.

DO YOU EVER LOOK BACK ON EARLY EPISODES AND NOTICE A TRANSFORMATION IN YOURSELF?

Someone said to me the other day, ‘you look so much better now you’re not dyeing your hair’ but I never have! What they’re trying to say is ‘it’s a bit more grey’, right? I make it very clear to both my children regularly: my excessively fast ageing is down to them and the stress that they have caused me... When I look back, I can see myself, but then when I compare it to what I look like now, I can see my dad. Not just how I look, but my behaviour as well. I’m becoming more and more like my dad – the one thing I swore I would never do as a teenager.

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A TEENAGER?

I’m the youngest of three. And I was certainly the one that caused the most problems. I was the most irritating and I got away with murder – and made the most of it. My brother, who just turned 50, still gets angry about it to this day and still feels like I get away with murder.

SO YOU’RE STILL A BIG KID?

You’re always looking for someone else to be responsible. And the irony is, I’m looking for my 15 year old to be responsible for the both of us.

Tipping Point, STV on Mondays, 4pm.