Retired IT Analyst Wins Millionaire Jackpot
A retired IT analyst has become the seventh contestant to win the £1 million jackpot on the ITV game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, the show saw Roman Dubowski claim the top prize.
Dubowski described the experience as "unreal," stating that he "had to have a cup of tea" afterwards to let the moment sink in.
Plans for Prize Money
As a quizzing enthusiast, Dubowski plans to use his winnings to purchase a new house and hopes to travel, including trips to New Zealand and South America.
Originally from Stockport, Dubowski recalled his reaction upon seeing the final question:
"I think I know this straight away"
The Final Question
The 15th and 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?"
The answer options were Bass Ale, The Famous Grouse, Coca-Cola, and Stella Artois.
Dubowski explained his thought process:
"When it came up… I thought, I think I know this straight away."
He recalled having seen the Manet painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergere at The Courtauld Gallery in London and distinctly remembered a red triangle on the painting, which has always been the symbol of Bass beer.
He chose to use the 50/50 lifeline, which narrowed the options to Coca-Cola and Bass Ale. Dubowski then decided to answer:
"Well I may as well go for it."
He correctly answered Bass Ale.
Emotions and Earlier Doubts
Reflecting on his feelings after answering the final question correctly, Dubowski said:
"It felt unreal… it didn't feel like the real world, almost, this isn't where I expected to be. It didn't sink in until later."
Earlier in the game, he experienced some self-doubt when asked which ingredient is mixed with vinegar, mustard, and oil to make a basic mayonnaise. The options were plain flour, salted butter, egg yolk, and double cream.
He decided to ask the audience, who voted 93% for egg yolk, which gave him confidence to proceed. At that point, he thought he might leave with nothing.
Celebration and Family
When asked how he celebrated his win, Dubowski said:
"I did sort of go home quietly, to be honest, I didn't get drunk – I had to have a cup of tea. I think it was just sitting in a quiet room and letting it all sink in, and thinking about what happened in the previous 24 hours."
The first person he informed was his sister, who was "absolutely thrilled" for him. He also mentioned plans to share some of his prize money with his niece and nephew.
Journey to the Show
Dubowski had initially applied to appear on the show when Chris Tarrant was the host but did not receive a response. He applied again after the COVID-19 lockdown but was unsuccessful.
In October of the previous year, he noticed an online advertisement recruiting new contestants. He decided to apply once more, saying:
"I thought oh, might as well try again, got nothing to lose, and just from that sort of casual opening, it ended up with the top prize. So I'm just happy I did it really."
Previous Winners
Other winners of the £1 million jackpot include Judith Keppel (2000), David Edwards (2001), Robert Brydges (2001), Pat Gibson (2004), and Ingram Wilcox (2006).
Additional Information
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