I've lost count now, how many times an offer has stuck at the same amount as the previous offer, and it "seems like a lifeline". In almost every case, it turns out to be an offer worth taking.

Well, it depends on the board. A stick at the previous offer could, in some cases, be an attempt to get the player cheap.

And not all 'lifeline' offers are worth taking: Claire from January 2011 got offered £1,000 on a 3-box board of 1p, £250 and £100,000. (She turned it down and won the £250).

Every offer needs to be read on its own merits. That said, the configurations where these "lifeline" sticks happen are usually going to be where the board has become more volatile, which explains the psychology behind the tactic.