Retired IT consultant Roman Dubowski has become the seventh contestant to win Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, taking home the full £1million prize during Sunday night’s opening episode of the ITV quiz show’s 35th series.
Roman’s victory was made even more remarkable by the fact he had tried to get onto the programme three times across more than 20 years. For him, simply reaching the famous chair was already a huge achievement — but he went far beyond that.
Despite a nervous early wobble on the £1,000 question, where he was forced to use Ask The Audience, Roman soon found his rhythm and powered through questions covering Harry Potter, mayonnaise, history, theatre, science and Greek mythology.
By the time he reached the final £1million question, he still had two lifelines left. In an extraordinary display of confidence, he answered the last question within two minutes — and still had Ask The Host unused.
The winning question asked: “Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?”
Roman correctly chose A: Bass Ale, securing his place in Millionaire history.
ITV has already teased that two contestants will reach the final £1million question in the new series, meaning Roman’s stunning win may not be the only major moment viewers see this season.
From Saturn’s rings and Elvis Presley’s Graceland to X-rays, Waiting for Godot and the Black Death, Roman conquered all 15 questions — proving that sometimes, even a shaky start can lead to a life-changing finish.
WOULD you have won the million? Test yourself with Roman’s questions from last night’s show . . .
QUESTION 1 – £100: The planet Saturn famously has seven what?
A) Rings, B) Necklaces, C) Bracelets, D) Anklets
QUESTION 2 – £200: At which of these locations is ice hockey traditionally played?
A) Rink, B) Range, C) Court, D) Field
QUESTION 3 – £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
QUESTION 4 – £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
QUESTION 5 – £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
QUESTION 6 – £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
QUESTION 7 – £4,000: Which of these fashion retailers was founded in Japan?
A) Zara, B) Uniqlo, C) Urban Outfitters, D) FatFace
QUESTION 8 – £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
QUESTION 9 – £16,000: Which of these sea creatures is not classed cartilaginous?
A) Shark, B) Ray, C) Dolphin, D) Skate
QUESTION 10 – £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
QUESTION 11 – £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
QUESTION 12 – £125,000: The Rhone river begins its journey in which mountain range?
A) Alps, B) Pennines, C) Carpathians, D) Pyrenees
QUESTION 13 – £250,000: Which of these figures from Greek mythology is not known for slaying a monster?
A) Theseus, B) Perseus, C) Adonis, D) Bellerophon
QUESTION 14 – £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
QUESTION 15 – £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
