BRAINBOX Roman Dubowski is TV’s newest quiz millionaire – but a tricky question on eggs almost scrambled his chances.
The retired IT analyst, who last night became only the seventh contestant to on ITV’s , was left struggling at the £1,000 mark when asked for the missing key ingredient in mayonnaise.
Roman Dubowski has become the seventh contestant to take the jackpot on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Credit: Unknown
Roman nearly lost it all after struggling at the £1,000 mark Credit: ITV
If he had got that wrong, he would have left empty-handed — but luckily he cracked .
Roman said: “I bought egg mayonnaise sandwiches in the past and when that question came up I thought, ‘If there’s such a thing as an egg mayonnaise sandwich, why would we call it that if mayonnaise already has egg in it?’.
“That moment of uncertainty goes through your head and it was a thousand pounds.
“If I got it wrong I’d walk away with nothing and that was like shame and humiliation almost.”
Roman, who competes in two local quiz leagues in his area, was forced to Ask The Audience on the mayonnaise question and also used his Phone-a-Friend lifeline for the £4,000 question where he was asked to name a Japanese fashion retailer.
That saw him enlist help from his sister Danuta.
In return, he has pledged to give his niece and nephew a share of his winnings, plus donate some to charity.
When Roman came on the show, he hoped he might win enough to get himself a new kitchen — and bagged enough to buy himself a whole new house.
But he’s also keen to splash out on more trips abroad. With 58 countries already crossed off his list, it’s one of his top pastimes.
Roman used his Phone-a-Friend lifeline for the £4,000 question Credit: ITV
Only the next time he jets off somewhere, probably to South America or , he might go first class.
After his early fumble over mayonnaise, Roman went on to answer almost every question with apparent ease, prompting impressed host Jeremy Clarkson to brand him: “An encyclopaedia in a shirt.”
In fact, the presenter seemed the most nervous as he realised that, by the 15th and final question, one of his two lifelines left was Ask .
Fortunately, Roman also had a 50/50 left too, which he deployed to help him get the right answer.
Roman, who retired at 59, said: “I didn’t expect to win a million. It’s taken a while to sink in.
“I thought I was good enough to win, say, a five-figure sum because I’ve seen the show so much.
“I’ve seen very good quiz names not do so well because just one question can catch you out.”
It was the third time the keen hiker had applied to get on the show, which started in 1998.
The first was in the era, then he tried his luck again during Covid.
He has also appeared on Channel 4 quiz Fifteen To One and got to the semi- finals of Radio 4’s Brain Of Britain.
Roman said: ‘I didn’t expect to win a million. It’s taken a while to sink in’ Credit: ITV
But soon after Roman was finally picked for Millionaire, tragedy struck, with his Italian mother Teresa passing in November. His episode was due to be recorded in December.
Roman — who is the first of two contestants to win a million on the new series — recalled: “I thought, ‘Should I carry on being on the show?’
“And once the funeral ended, I thought, ‘No, let’s carry on. You can’t live in the past all the time’.
“She would have wanted me to do it. I think she would have been delighted and, of course, proud.”
Roman also talks with huge affection about his Polish father Wiktor, who he credits with giving him his thirst for knowledge.
He said: “My father had this sort of Eastern European idea of, ‘You have to read books to get on’, which was nice.
“There was a well-thumbed version of the Hutchinson Encyclopedia in our family home.”
Now he has bagged a million on national TV, he’s conscious he might get recognised out and about — and asked for money.
But since he isn’t willing to leave the corner of the country he wants to always call home, he’s developed a cunning plan — growing a beard.
He said: “I’ve always wanted one, but deep down the reason I’ve got it this year is it gives me a bet.”
He said: “I’ve always wanted one, but deep down the reason I’ve got it this year is it gives me a better disguise. So, yeah, I’m prepared.”
ROMAN’S MILLIONAIRE QUESTIONS
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
ANSWERS
A – Rings. 2. A – Rink. 3. A – Fire with fire. 4. B – Graceland. 5. C – Egg yolk. 6. A – Muggle. 7. B – Uniqlo. 8. C – Black Death. 9. C – Dolphin. 10. C – Ductile. 11. D – Waiting For Godot. 12. A – Alps. 13. C – Adonis. 14. B – X-rays. 15. A – Bass Ale.
SHE’D BE GEM OF A BOND
AS the search for the next continues, I’d say ‘s performance in spy thriller Secret Service would make her a great contender for the first female 007.
Gemma – who starred in 2008’s Quantum of Solace – is utterly convincing as senior MI6 operative Kate Henderson in the ITV series, which kicks off tonight at 9pm.
Gemma Arterton in spy thriller Secret Service Credit: ITV
While comparisons between the two roles have been made, Gemma reckons Kate is very different to James Bond.
She says: “What sets this show apart is it looks at the domestic.
“She is a mother . . . she has a busy life.”
Having kept her second pregnancy secret until recently revealing she gave birth six months ago, you’d think Gemma would make a great spy in real life.
But she’s not so sure.
She says: “I’m clumsy, I’m not good at being covert.”
Isn’t that exactly what a spy would say?
JOEL DOMMETT has been confirmed as the host for the National Television Awards.
It will be the sixth year has presented the star-studded ceremony, which takes place at London’s O2 Arena on September 8. It will be broadcast on ITV.
KONAN’S KREPT IN TO SAS
UK rap star Konan has signed up for in his first primetime TV gig.
The musician, who is part of award-winning hip hop duo , is already training hard for the show.
Konan has signed up for Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in his first primetime TV gig Credit: Getty
Konan – real name Karl Wilson – will be joined by Towie’s and MAFS star .
A source said: “Konan is a great lad and a whole new audience will get to know him.”
Ex-special forces big dogs Billy Billingham, Jason Fox, Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver will be on hand to push the stars to their limit.
I told last month how a casting call had gone out for series nine, which airs in 2027.
In January, 1.1million viewers watched the UK vs Australia finale – slightly up on 2025.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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