Roman Dubowski, a retired IT analyst from Stockport, has become one of only seven people to win the £1 million jackpot on ITV's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? His victory came after he boldly staked £468,000 on the final question, correctly identifying Bass Ale as the logo featured in a painting by French modernist Manet. Dubowski credits his love of visiting art galleries for helping him answer correctly.
Roman Dubowski's Tips for Quizzing Success
Dubowski, who plans to use his winnings to buy a new house with a driveway, has shared valuable advice for aspiring contestants. He emphasizes the importance of carefully choosing whom to call for the "Phone a Friend" lifeline, listening attentively to host Jeremy Clarkson, being persistent when applying for the show, and staying calm under pressure.
The Book That Made the Difference
In an interview with The i Paper, Dubowski recommended a specific book: The A to Z of Everything: A Compendium of General Knowledge by Trevor Montague. "It's very good," he said. He also mentioned revising Jeremy Clarkson's Wikipedia entry to anticipate topics to ask or avoid, though he ultimately did not use Clarkson as a lifeline.
Trevor Montague, a Mensa member and former Brain of London, is the founder of The British Quiz Association. He has also written The A to Z of Britain and Ireland and The A to Z of Sport.
An Unreal Experience
Describing the win as "unreal," Dubowski told the BBC: "It didn't feel like the real world… this isn't where I expected to be." After the show, he went home quietly, had a cup of tea, and let it all sink in. He recalled knowing the answer to the final question "straight away."
This story follows a recent £12.3 million People's Postcode Lottery win in Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire, where one resident, Tracey Hill, received £389,846 and plans to spend it on a holiday, a car, and helping her daughter with driving test costs.
