Retired IT consultant Roman Dubowski played an epic game of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on Sunday night, becoming the seventh winner of the quiz show. After ITV teased that not one but two contestants would reach the final £1 million question in series 35, Jeremy Clarkson watched as his latest contestant answered 15 questions correctly.
A Shaky Start
It was a shaky start, however, as the contestant stumbled on the £1,000 question and had to use his Ask The Audience lifeline. A couple of questions later, for the £3,000 conundrum, Roman was forced to use his Phone A Friend lifeline to call his sister. He asked: 'Which of these fashion retailers was founded in Japan? A: Zara, B: Uniqlo, C: Urban Outfitters, D: Zara.' Roman's sister immediately answered correctly, sending her brother to the next question.
From there, it was smooth sailing for Roman, who navigated varied topics including history, theatre, and his favourite subjects of history and geography. Before reaching the final question, Roman modestly revealed he planned to spend any winnings on 'home improvements', including a new kitchen, to which Jeremy joked he could easily afford two new kitchens.
Confidence Builds
For the £250,000 question, Roman confidently answered a question on Greek mythology, prompting an impressed Jeremy to admit: 'Hey, I'm a bit excited, we have a proper encyclopedia in a shirt here!' The £500,000 question was: '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.' Despite Jeremy's nerves, Roman was sure he knew the answer was X-Rays, locking in his final answer within seconds of the question appearing. Jeremy then threw the show to an advert break before asking Roman the final question.
The Million-Pound Moment
Roman entered the £1 million question with two lifelines remaining: his 50/50 and his Ask The Host. His final question was: '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.' Roman admitted, 'I have something in my head,' but opted to stay safe and use his 50/50 lifeline, leaving him with A: Bass Ale and B: Coca-Cola. Roman was then convinced the answer was Bass Ale, recalling a painting by Manet depicting the brand's logo. He decided not to use his Ask The Host lifeline, to gasps from the audience, and went straight for answer A, landing him a million pounds.
As the confetti fell, a cool and calm Roman admitted, 'It hasn't sunk in,' and said the first person he would call with the news would be his sister, who helped him to the million.
Series 35 Drama
It was revealed by ITV earlier this month that two contestants would make it to the £1 million question in the most dramatic season of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? yet, and another suffers one of the biggest losses in the show's history. Not one, but two players make it to the final question for the incredible life-changing cash prize, which has only been done by six former contestants over the past 28 years. Judith Keppel won in 2000, followed by David Edwards and Robert Brydges in 2001. Pat Gibson was crowned winner in 2004, Ingram Wilcox in 2006, and the sixth winner, Donald Fear, won in 2020.
Unfortunately, it is not all good news for those taking part in the new series. The channel also revealed that one contestant loses £186,000, one of the biggest losses in the show’s history. The biggest loser was Nicholas Bennett, who answered the £1 million question wrong last year and lost £375,000.
Speaking about the upcoming episodes, Jeremy said: 'I think this may be my favourite series so far. Seeing two people get to the £1 million question was extraordinary. When they’re sitting there on that final question, the tension in the studio is incredible; you can really feel it. Can’t wait for people to watch it.'
ITV's official press release has labelled the series 'the most suspenseful runs the show has delivered in years'. 'Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the nail-biting new series will see contestants once again attempt to climb the famous Million Pound Money Ladder, using their lifelines—Ask the Audience, 50:50, Ask the Host, and Phone a Friend—in a bid to secure life-changing winnings,' it adds. 'Whilst details of the contestants and their gameplay are being kept tightly under wraps, viewers will be left wondering whether one or more contestants will join the elite group of contestants who have won the coveted £1 million prize in the show’s UK history. The new run begins with a gripping opening episode that sets the tone for a series packed with tension, high-stakes decisions, and unforgettable moments.'
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire first aired in 1998. At the time, Chris Tarrant presented the show, and he did so until 2014. After a four-year hiatus, the programme returned to our screens on ITV in 2018, but with a different presenter: Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson. The show is currently airing series 35 on our screens.
