The seventh person in television history has claimed the coveted £1 million jackpot on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. In Sunday night's episode of the Jeremy Clarkson-hosted ITV competition series, intellectual maestro Roman Dubowski kept his cool as he navigated his way to the highest stakes question on reality TV.
After an initial stumble over the £1,000 question at the start of his stint, where he invoked his ask the audience card early for a mayonnaise-based query, there was no stopping Roman as he climbed the ranks to £1 million. Using his Phone-a-Friend lifeline to recruit his sister's help for the £4,000 Japanese retailer-themed question, he still had two lifelines left as he careened to the finish line.
The Manchester-based IT analyst, who has honed his skills in two quiz leagues, was faced with the following question for the all-important £1 million: "Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?" For art and literature buffs, this might be a breeze. For the rest, however, it is tricky indeed. Roman used the 50/50 lifeline to increase his chances. Down to just the brewery company, Bass Ale, and globally recognised fizzy drink brand Coca-Cola, he locked in Bass Ale and, as dramatically declared by the Clarkson's Farm icon, he won a million pounds!
Discussing his iconic victory, Roman said: "I didn't expect to win a million. It's taken a while to sink in. I thought I was good enough to win, say, a five-figure sum because I've seen the show so much. I've seen very good quiz names not do so well because just one question can catch you out." This is the third time Dubowski – dubbed "an encyclopaedia in a shirt" by Clarkson – has attempted to join the show, once during the Chris Tarrant era and twice during the revival.
The Winning Questions
Here are all the questions Roman faced on his path to the million:
- £100 – The planet Saturn famously has seven what? A) Rings, B) Necklaces, C) Bracelets, D) Anklets. Answer: Rings
- £200 – At which of these locations is ice hockey traditionally played? A) Rink, B) Range, C) Court, D) Field. Answer: Rink
- £300 – If you respond to an opponent's attack with the same method, you are said to fight…? A) Fire with fire, B) Smoke with smoke, C) Embers with embers, D) Cinders with cinders. Answer: Fire with Fire
- £500 – What is the name of the famous mansion in Memphis that was Elvis Presley's home from 1957 to 1977? A) Paisley Park, B) Graceland, C) The Troubadour, D) Dollywood. Answer: Graceland
- £1,000 – What is mixed with vinegar, mustard and oil to make basic mayonnaise? A) Plain flour, B) Salted butter, C) Egg yolk, D) Double cream. Answer: Egg yolk
- £2,000 – In the Harry Potter books, which term is used to describe a non-magic person? A) Muggle, B) Moomin, C) Munchkin, D) Minion. Answer: Muggle
- £4,000 – Which of these fashion retailers was founded in Japan? A) Zara, B) Uniqlo, C) Urban Outfitters, D) FatFace. Answer: Uniqlo
- £8,000 – Which of these major historic events took place in the middle of the 14th century? A) English Civil War, B) Norman Conquest, C) Black Death, D) Wars of the Roses. Answer: Black Death
- £16,000 – Which of these sea creatures is not classed cartilaginous? A) Shark, B) Ray, C) Dolphin, D) Skate. Answer: Dolphin
- £32,000 – Which word refers to a metal that can be stretched out into a thin wire without breaking? A) Sonorous, B) Conductive, C) Ductile, D) Lustrous. Answer: Ductile
- £64,000 – Which of these plays is part of the 20th century theatrical movement known as The Theatre of the Absurd? A) Death Of A Salesman, B) The Glass Menagerie, C) The Seagull, D) Waiting For Godot. Answer: Waiting for Godot
- £125,000 – The Rhone river begins its journey in which mountain range? A) Alps, B) Pennines, C) Carpathians, D) Pyrenees. Answer: Alps
- £250,000 – Which of these figures from Greek mythology is not known for slaying a monster? A) Theseus, B) Perseus, C) Adonis, D) Bellerophon. Answer: Adonis
- £500,000 – Presented in 1901, the first Nobel Prize in physics was awarded for the discovery of what? A) Wireless telegraphy, B) X-rays, C) Cosmic radiation, D) Quantum mechanics. Answer: X-Rays
- £1,000,000 – Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso? A) Bass Ale, B) The Famous Grouse, C) Coca-Cola, D) Stella Artois. Answer: Bass Ale
A Personal Journey
Finally accepted this time around, Roman almost pulled out when his mother died shortly before he was set to record, but ultimately decided to go ahead. "She would have wanted me to do it. I think she would have been delighted and, of course, proud," he shared. As for his plans for the money, he mentioned hopes for a new kitchen and to keep on travelling the world – both of which will be more than possible with this prize pot.
Fan Reactions
Fans celebrated the win online, with X user Lisa declaring: "What a clever man! Bloody brilliant!" Neilby70 echoed: "What a player! So deserving." Simon Deverill reflected: "Amazing! So good to see someone even get that far, let alone win the million! Have noticed that every winner who's won the million has been cool as a cucumber!"
Previous Winners
Although achingly rare, Dubowski is not the first person to win the £1 million prize (and he won't be the last, with another contestant set to clinch the top prize this season). The first-ever winner of the UK game show was former garden designer Judith Keppel in 2000. The only woman to win the prize so far, she went on to join the game show Eggheads. Next up are the 2001 winners: physics teacher David Edwards and banker Robert Brydges. They both won the same year that disgraced ex-winner Charles Ingram was exposed as a fraud. In 2004, world champion quiz player Pat Gibson secured the top prize and followed in the Eggheads' footsteps. The final winner of the Chris Tarrant era game show, civil servant Ingram Wilcox, came about in 2006. Fast forward fourteen years to the reboot, and in 2020, teacher Donald Fear bopped to the very top, with lifelines to spare.
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is available to stream on ITVX. It will continue on ITV1 on Sunday at 8pm.
