ITV Tipping Point contestant dies before episode airs

A contestant on the popular ITV game show Tipping Point died before the episode she was featured in aired. The retired school bus driver from Bolton sadly passed away, it was announced.

Just before the show aired on Wednesday, May 4, the show sadly announced one of its contestants, Cath, had passed away. The Bolton woman played alongside Afqad and Mark to win a potential £10,000 jackpot. Wales Online reported that Cath was knocked out first which left Afqad and Mark to battle for the prize.

Reports came in before the show aired that Cath - who said "I don't want to go home" just before she was knocked out - had died since the filming. The team at Tipping Point tweeted before the show aired that: "After the recording of today's programme, we spoke with Cath's family who shared the sad news of Cath's passing. Everyone at Tipping Point would like to extend their sincerest sympathies."

Read more: Popular Nottingham womenswear brand to open new city centre store

The tweet was met with messages of support for Cath's family. "I'm devastated to hear this and would like to offer my condolences to Cath's friends and family," one Twitter user posted.

Another viewer wrote: "Bless her. Sad to hear when this happens. Thoughts with all the family x." Host of the show, Ben Shephard, also tweeted his own message of support on Wednesday.

He wrote: "Today's Tipping Point is a poignant one… since recording the show, lovely contestant Cath, pictured backstage here, has passed away. Our thoughts and love are with her family and friends x".

Want the latest news delivered straight to your inbox? to sign up for Nottinghamshire Live's newsletters.

Cath never got to see herself on the show sadly but tributes to the retired bus driver continued to pour in throughout the show as the news broke. The show has been airing on ITV for over a decade and is now on series 12 of the popular daytime quiz game.

Contestants try their luck against an arcade-style machine in which tokens are dropped down in a choice of four chutes as they attempt to knock them off a moving shelf. The more you collect, the bigger the prize fund in today's episode.