It has been 13 years since a contestant last reached the £1million question.
And last night, a Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? hopeful almost scooped the top prize – but decided to walk away with £500,000 after stumbling over a question on British politics.
English teacher John Robinson raced through the general knowledge questions on the ITV programme in what the show's host Jeremy Clarkson described as an 'extraordinary' round.
English teacher John Robinson, 36, from Birmingham, almost scooped the top prize last night on Who Wants to be a Millionaire
Mr Robinson raced through the general knowledge questions but stumbled over a question on British politics
But the contestant, of Birmingham, took the second-highest prize of half a million rather than gamble his winnings on a question about former prime ministers.
Mr Robinson, 36, who has worked at Bishop Challoner Catholic College for five years, was asked who out of Winston Churchill, Alec Douglas-Home, Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan had not served as Foreign Secretary.
Contemplating the poser, he said: 'I think it's probably between B and C but to be honest I'm not prepared to risk £436,000.
'I think it would take several years of teaching to take £500,000 home so I think I'm going to take the money, final answer. Considering I didn't know the £2,000 question I think I've done ok.'
Congratulating him, Clarkson said: 'What a player, what a fabulous player. Well done. That was incredible. There's a lot you can do with that. It really does set you up, which is
