Tipping Point Winner Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Secrets and Ben Shepherd Encounter
Social media influencer Ellie Millar, who boasts an impressive 2.9 million followers on TikTok, has opened up about her experience as a contestant on ITV's popular game show Tipping Point. Winning £2,100, she shared exclusive details about the application process, filming day, and her memorable meeting with host Ben Shepherd.
From Application to Acceptance
Ellie Millar applied to appear on Tipping Point after watching the programme with her now husband, Sam. She was genuinely surprised to receive a response just weeks after submitting her application, having missed the initial call while working a shift at Costa Coffee. Her manager encouraged her to return the call promptly, leading to a general knowledge test and telephone interview.
The process advanced to a Zoom session with programme producers, who assessed her on-camera presence. "They asked me some more general knowledge questions. I don't really remember those ones but, again they were not all correct and they were like okay thank you Ellie we will be in touch," Ellie recalled. After a few weeks of silence, she received the exciting news: "I'm pretty sure I got a phone call saying they would love to have me on the show. Oh my god, I couldn't believe it."
Filming Day Logistics and Outfit Drama
Ellie recorded the episode on May 26, 2022, with ITV covering her travel expenses to Bristol, the filming location, including accommodation. "They were asking me about trains and things like that, and I was like 'I'll drive', I had to send my postcode and they worked out how much it would cost in petrol and gave me the money for the petrol," she explained. The hotel was described as nice, and she received a food voucher upon arrival, rating the experience a 10/10.
Contestants were instructed to bring three outfit choices that couldn't feature blue, patterns, or branding, with producers preferring vibrant colours. Surprisingly, all three of Ellie's options were rejected, forcing her to wear the jumper she had travelled in for the show.
Behind the Scenes on Set
On the day of filming, contestants had to be ready by 8.30am for a 12.45pm start. "They had to go through loads of rules, if you're caught cheating obviously you're straight away out of the game, if you swear, but yeah it was fine," Ellie noted. An interesting aspect was the pre-filming interaction: "What's so crazy is that us three contestants were left in this room and we were told to chat to each other for the next hour, because once filming starts they don't want it to be awkward between the contestants."
Meeting host Ben Shepherd was a highlight. "He was just talking to the producer and was like 'hi guys, are you okay?' He was so so lovely and I was a bit starstruck," she shared, adding that the whole day felt like a blur.
Winning and Prize Money Details
Ellie triumphed over her competitors and played solo in the final round for a potential £10,000. However, she admitted to performing "terrible" in this round, accumulating only £2,100. When Ben Shepherd asked if she wanted to continue for the £10k, she opted to keep her winnings and avoid risk.
After the show, Ben offered a photo opportunity, and Ellie chatted with him about using the money for a trip to Bali with her boyfriend. Producers had her sign a contract regarding the prize money payout, with the main rule being not to disclose the show's outcome—though she confessed to telling her mother.
The episode aired on October 26, 2022, but Ellie didn't have to wait until broadcast to receive her prize. "I think It was around one month, like three or four weeks. I know they had to do a few checks and things like that, but it was pretty quick," she revealed, providing insight into the timely payment process.
