Ben Shephard has cleared up how the game really works

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Fans of Tipping Point quite often throw 'fixed' and 'rigged' claims around.

If the ITV quiz game doesn't go the way viewers sometimes hope then they are quick to accuse the programme of cheating the players. Contestants appear on the show to place counters into a machine, after answering questions, in an attempt to win a £10,000 cash prize.

For each correct answer, the players get a counter. It is then put into one of four slots in an arcade-style giant machine which would then push some of the other counters forward - each counter that drops down is worth £50 and goes into that player's pot.

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Lucky contestants could see their prize pots doubled if they bag a double counter, making their earnings even bigger. If they nab a mystery counter then they will walk away with a mystery prize such as a holiday or kitchen appliance.

But fans have accused the game of being rigged, and come up with theories such as the studio using magnets to guide the counters, preventing players from winning huge amounts of cash. Now, host Ben Shephard has cleared up how the game really works.

He told Huffington Post : "It’s a really complicated system that is run by the gallery. It’s such a complicated set up, which is why when people ask if we can take it on the road, that’s the reason why we can’t."

"Whilst the machine runs on its own impressive electronics, there is still a person that plays a vital role of sitting behind the machine on a chair. Ben said: "He has to make sure the hydraulics are going at the right pace, because sometimes they can be too fast. He has to make sure the hoppers that feed the counter are full."

A ladder is placed behind the machine to allow members of the production team to fill the machine with counters when they're ready to be dropped. 40 counters are placed rather than dropped to start the game in no particular order.

Behind the scenes, a runner comes onto set to count the number of counters that fall, so Ben can tell contestants how much money they've bagged. The runner then clears the dropped counters. Ahead of each show, counters are individually polished, so that no markings show up on camera.

Tipping Point airs weekdays from 4pm on ITV and the ITV Hub

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