Viewers of Tipping Point were shocked to discover the final contestant’s unusual career.
Jim, a retired police officer from York, tried his hand at the gameshow along with housekeeper Nix, forensic science student Moya and electrician Jinead.
Wearing a pink shirt and smart black trousers, Jim made it through all the rounds and into the tense final head-to-head with fellow contestant Jinead.
The pair battled for the win, passing questions back and forth before Jim managed to knock him out and take the crown.
During the final round before he was about to take on the machine for the jackpot prize, Ben asked him about his career.
He said he was a retired police officer of 30 years and a local government officer of 10 years – and was even involved in hostage negotiations.
Ben asked if he enjoyed his time in the force and he replied that he did because he was “lucky enough to do a lot of interesting jobs.”
“I was a hostage negotiator, I was a firearms instructor, firearms team leader, it was an interesting career,” he revealed, to which Ben replied: “I bet it was! Interesting and varied.”
Fans rushed to Twitter to share their shock and the contestant’s intriguing career.
One said: “Let’s hear it for Jim, the hostage negotiator!”
Another wrote: “Hostage negotiator,” with a shocked emoji.
Someone else couldn’t resist joking: “Hostage Negotiator?! What, send em to sleep Jim & run in and get em?!”
When asked what he would do with the prize money, he said he wanted to invest in some professional paint to take his hobby to the next level.
He also wanted to spend it on his grandchildren before using the rest to go on a “painting holiday” in Italy.
He didn’t manage to win the top prize and took away a modest £2,650, but some viewers felt that the win was undeserved.
Throughout the show, contestants had passed their questions an unusually large amount of times, particularly between Jim and Jinead in the final round.
Once the programme ended some Twitter users shared their complaints, with one saying the “whole programme was like pulling teeth without anaesthetic.”
Another Tipping Point fan couldn’t believe that Jim took away such a large amount of money after he had to be advised on timing his drops by Ben.
One irate viewer posted: “Is Jim on a wind up when he’s putting the counters in?”
“Jim have you never seen this game before , did you never go to Blackpool pleasure beach as a kid, timing is everything!” someone else complained.
As a third echoed: “Jim. Listen to Ben on the timing. He’s f***ing helping you out!”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk