For most people, questions about mayonnaise barely register in daily life. But for Roman Dubowski, one such question almost changed everything. After years of absorbing trivia and maintaining relentless quiz practice, Roman, a retired IT analyst from Stockport, Greater Manchester, became the seventh million-pound winner ever on the UK's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' One last exceptionally easy question, a moment of panic, and now he is part of British television history.
The Final Question That Led to Victory
Oddly enough, Roman nearly crashed out at the GBP 1,000 question, not some nail-biting million-pound finale. The question seemed basic: What key ingredient is missing from mayonnaise? The answer was egg yolk. But in that stressful split-second, Roman overthought and started doubting whether mayonnaise already contained egg, thanks to 'egg mayonnaise sandwiches.' That flicker of uncertainty led him to use his Ask the Audience lifeline far earlier than planned. 'If I got it wrong, I'd walk away with nothing,' he said, describing it as nearly a moment of 'shame and humiliation.'
Roman Dubowski's Journey to the Hot Seat
Getting onto the Millionaire Hot Seat was not a fast process for Roman. He had tried to get on the show twice before, starting in the Chris Tarrant era, but got nowhere. He tried again in 2022, made it to auditions, but still was not selected. This was attempt number three, spanning twenty years. As ITV put it: third time lucky. Roman never expected the million-pound ending either. 'I thought I'd win maybe GBP 32,000 or a five-figure sum,' he admitted. 'I never thought I'd win GBP 1 million.' Before appearing, he had modest hopes, maybe enough to redo his kitchen. Instead, he has the whole house handled.
Plans for the Winnings
Now that he is a millionaire, Dubowski plans to buy a new home, share with family—especially his niece and nephews—donate to charity, and splurge on travel. After visiting 58 countries, he is eager to see New Zealand and South America, perhaps at the front of the plane this time. After surviving the mayonnaise question, sitting in economy seems beneath him!
An Encyclopaedia in a Shirt
On the show, once Roman got past the early stumble, he picked up steam. He passed question after question calmly, saved lifelines smartly, and kept his head in the game. When the final question came, he still had lifelines left: he used 50:50 to clinch it, with 'Ask Jeremy' in reserve. Clarkson, clearly impressed, named him 'an encyclopaedia in a shirt,' which is probably his highest form of praise. However, beneath all the excitement, Roman's win seems more joyous because of the journey he has had. His mother Teresa died in November, just before filming was set. Although he thought of pulling out, he decided she would have wanted him to see it through. 'I think she would have been delighted and, of course, proud,' he said. His father, Wiktor, encouraged his love of learning, keeping a battered encyclopaedia always at home. That million-pound win was not just luck or knowledge; it was a lifetime of curiosity coming full circle.
The Millionaires' Club
After winning the show, Roman got inducted into an exclusive club: The Millionaires' Club. Since the British version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' started, only seven people have answered all 15 questions for the jackpot. Roman is now part of that tiny group, alongside legends like Judith Keppel, Pat Gibson, Ingram Wilcox, Donald Fear, and a few others. In Clarkson's era, he is only the second.
