A retired analyst wins first prize in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire competition show
The correct sequence of 15 answers brought victory to Roman Dubovsky, a former IT specialist based in Stockport. He took home a £1 million grand prize on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, becoming the seventh contestant to reach the top prize on the long-running show hosted by Jeremy Clarkson. Confirmation of the result appears in the BBC coverage, with a detailed explanation of how Dubovsky moved through a tense structure that required precision, calm and careful choices with props.
From another angle, the makers of the ITV series point out that receiving the entire award is uncommon, making him one of the few to have reached the highest level since its launch.Roman Dubovsky said winning the ITV game show was “unreal”, adding that he “should have had a cup of tea” afterwards and “let it sink in”. Recalling how he relied on instinct and memory when faced with the final question, he linked a recorded symbol to written works and major pieces of art.
Options included Bass Ale, The Famous Grouse, Coca-Cola and Stella Artois. Dubowski recognized the red triangle associated with Bass Ale from Édouard Manet’s painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, which he had seen at the Courtauld Gallery in London.
From there, he began eliminating options, using a 50-50 lifeline.He felt confident when the options narrowed down, so he turned his hand toward an automated bass. This selection opened the door to a million pounds, an unusual result in the show’s history.
Dubowski plans to buy a new home with the cash prize, followed by trips to places like New Zealand and parts of South America. Instead of keeping everything, he would pass on parts of it, specifically to younger relatives like his niece and nephew. The win changed personal plans in quiet but meaningful ways.The contestant’s journey to the studio spanned several years. He first applied when host Chris Tarrant was on, followed by another attempt once the pandemic was over.
Last year’s casting call renewed his interest, a decision that led to his selection and win.Among those with seven-figure prize money stands Dubosky, placing him with names like Judith Keppel and Pat Gibson. The show’s enduring magic becomes evident through moments like these, where calm focus meets a willingness to navigate high-pressure decisions.
