Roman Dubowski, the latest contestant to win the top prize on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, has credited host Jeremy Clarkson with a crucial piece of advice that helped him secure the £1 million jackpot. Dubowski, who appeared on the ITV show on Sunday night, became only the seventh winner in the programme's history to take home the maximum prize.
Clarkson's Advice on the 50-50 Lifeline
Dubowski revealed that Clarkson advised contestants not to waste their 50-50 lifeline. He told the Mirror: "He had very good advice about the 50/50 lifeline. I've seen people misuse that on the show where if they don't know any of the four answers and they use 50/50, well they've still got two answers they don't know." Dubowski added that the key is to use it only when you have an inkling that one or two answers might be correct. He said: "I didn't actually use it till the end and I didn't actually need to use it, but that stayed with me throughout the show."
The Winning Moment
Dubowski managed to keep his 50-50 lifeline until the final question, which asked: "Which trademark logo used since 1876 was in the novel 'Ulysses' and paintings by Picasso and Manet?" After seeing the four possible answers, he had a hunch but was unsure. He used his 50-50, which left the options of Coca-Cola and Bass Ale. He then confidently answered Bass Ale. Clarkson responded with "But you don't know that," to which Dubowski replied, "It's because of the painting." His hunch paid off, and he became a millionaire, reacting with a smile and a chuckle rather than tears of joy or fist pumps.
Other Highlights from the New Series
The new series, which began on ITV, promises more surprises. One other contestant is expected to reach the £1 million question, though it has not been revealed whether they win the jackpot. Another contestant loses a staggering £186,000 in a single moment, one of the biggest losses in the show's history. The biggest loser remains Nicholas Bennett, who answered the £1 million question wrong and lost £375,000 last year.
Viewers will also be rooting for a war hero, Joe from Nottingham, a tree surgeon and former Royal Marine who was shot while serving in Afghanistan and now has a robotic leg. He hopes to win big in the hot seat.
Clarkson's Thoughts on the Series
Host Jeremy Clarkson said: "I think this might be my favourite series so far. There are some properly nail-biting moments and seeing two contestants 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. I can't wait for people to watch it." He added that the show remains a television staple after almost three decades, calling it "the granddaddy" and "the GOAT" of quiz shows, noting that viewers can play along at home with their families.
