An "unbelievable" moment unfolded on a repeat episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? as contestant Roman Dubowski clinched the top prize, leaving host Jeremy Clarkson lost for words.
The retired IT analyst from the episode, broadcast on Wednesday (August 5), managed to win the jackpot after a nail-biting final question. His win came after the first contestant had exited with just £1,000, having missed a question about actress Emma Stone.
From Doubt to Victory
Clarkson initially joked about the day's form, saying: "Right, you know the rules, don't you? We ask questions, one of them's about Emma Stone and some silly Gucci film, you get it wrong and then we move on to the next contestant. That seems to be the form today."
However, Roman bucked the trend, answering correctly with help from the audience and his sister, Danuta. Clarkson praised him as "a proper encyclopaedia in a shirt" after Roman won £250,000.
The Million-Pound Question
Roman reached the final question with two lifelines remaining, admitting: "Strangely, I've become less nervous as it's gone on." The 15th question asked: "Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?" with options including Bass Ale, The Famous Grouse, Coca-Cola, and Stella Artois.
After using his 50:50 lifeline, Roman recalled seeing a Manet painting with the Bass Ale trademark, declaring it as his "final answer". Clarkson confirmed: "You've won a million pounds!" as the audience erupted.
An Extraordinary Achievement
Clarkson marvelled: "It's an extraordinary thing! That's fantastic! Only the second man [to do it]." He added: "It happens so infrequently, I don't even know what to say. And you did it without my help! Well, that's just extraordinary."
Roman said the win hadn't sunk in yet: "It's one of those slow-motion things that'll probably sink in a bit later today, but at the moment, I just take things one at a time." He thanked his sister for helping with an earlier question, and Clarkson admitted: "That was at a time when, I'm sure, the whole audience and me, and everybody watching at home, was thinking, 'Oh, here's another one. He'll be gone at 32.' Not a bit of it. Million pounds. Unbelievable."
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? is available to stream on ITVX.
