Dan Farmer, from Hull, won £10,000 on the ITV game show Tipping Point in 2022
A train driver bagged a £10,000 jackpot on ITV’s Tipping Point and credits his triumph to Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE). Dan Farmer, from Hull, claimed the show’s top prize in 2022, three years after leaving BBC’s Pointless without any winnings.
His spectacular success came after following MSE’s advice on ‘how to play your cards right’. He disclosed that his mum had always been a ‘huge Martin Lewis’ fan, and that’s where his journey started.
“One day I was browsing the site and saw the blog about boosting your chances to get on a TV game show and just thought, ‘why the hell not?’, so I started applying for multiple shows,” he told the publication last year.
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“I remember reading the line [in the MSE blog] which said, ‘sending off application forms and having telephone interviews isn’t that scary – because you are just talking about yourself’. It took away the fear for me because it was so simple; all you really have to do is be yourself and let your personality shine through – so that’s what I did.”
Tipping Point, hosted by Ben Shephard, challenges contestants to answer general knowledge questions to earn counters for a giant arcade-style machine. The more counters they successfully push out, the more money they win.
During the audition for Tipping Point, Dan kept reminding himself to stay true to himself, following MSE’s advice, which helped calm his nerves. By 2024, he had not only secured £10,000 but also used it to furnish a new property.
Dan said that he constantly urges his mates to try their hand at game shows and reminds them of MSE’s game-changing guidance. So, what’s the secret?
Apart from championing genuineness, MSE has previously suggested targeting the more obscure programmes before tackling the major ones. Even if you’re fantasising about a shot at bagging Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, landing a place on such a programme proves rather tricky.
According to Leicestershire Live, the initial application form or video shouldn’t be overlooked either. It’s crucial to make yours stand out, much like a CV or cover letter.
MSE also said that most game shows tend to ask similar questions during the application process, whether they’re about hobbies or career goals. So, practising your answers could be key to getting your moment in the spotlight.
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Originally published in 2015, the advice adds: “Be as bubbly and upbeat as you can and use the potential to win cash and prizes as your driving force to show them how much you want it. If you are memorable for any reason, you will be in with a good chance of getting on the show.”
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