IT Analyst Wins £1 Million Jackpot on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Roman Dubowski from Greater Manchester has become the seventh person to claim the top prize on Jeremy Clarkson's ITV game show, correctly answering all 15 questions to secure the £1 million jackpot.

The retired IT professional, who pursues quizzing as a hobby, described the moment of his victory as "unreal", revealing that he needed to retreat home for a quiet cup of tea to process the magnitude of his achievement.

The Winning Answer

Dubowski's path to the jackpot culminated in the final question, which asked: "Used since 1876, which trademarked logo is described in the James Joyce novel Ulysses and depicted in works by Manet and Picasso?"

The four options presented were:

• Bass Ale
• The Famous Grouse
• Coca-Cola
• Stella Artois

Dubowski chose to deploy his 50/50 lifeline, which narrowed the possibilities to Coca-Cola and Bass Ale. Drawing upon his knowledge of art history, he confidently selected Bass Ale as the correct answer. He later explained that he had viewed Edouard Manet's famous painting "A Bar at the Folies-Bergere" at The Courtauld Gallery in London, where he distinctly recalled seeing the distinctive red triangle that has long served as the symbol of Bass beer.

A Journey to Victory

The Stockport-based contestant had previously attempted to secure a place on the show during Chris Tarrant's tenure as host but received no response. He applied again following the pandemic lockdown, again without success. However, after spotting a recruitment advertisement online in October of the previous year, he decided to make a third attempt, ultimately leading to his triumph.

During his appearance, Dubowski experienced a moment of uncertainty when answering a question about the primary ingredient mixed with vinegar, mustard, and oil to prepare basic mayonnaise. When presented with options including plain flour, salted butter, egg yolk, and double cream, he consulted the studio audience, whose 93 percent response guided him toward the correct answer of egg yolk.

Plans for the Prize

Dubowski intends to use his winnings to purchase a new house and finance international travel, with aspirations to visit New Zealand and South America. He has also announced his intention to share a portion of the prize with his niece and nephew, having told his sister first, who was described as "absolutely thrilled" by the news.

Notable Context

Dubowski joins an exclusive group of jackpot winners on the programme. Previous £1 million victors include Judith Keppel (2000), David Edwards (2001), Robert Brydges (2001), Pat Gibson (2004), and Ingram Wilcox (2006).