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Who Wants To Be A Millionaire: All the jackpot winners so far

British gameshow contestant Judith Keppel shows off the cheque she won on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' at a photocall in Elstree studios Borehamwood, November 20, 2000. Ms Keppel, a distant cousin of Prince Charles' partner Camilla Parker Bowles, will become the first contestant to claim the one million pound (sterling) prize money when the show is broadcast on British television tonight.

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Judith Keppel was the first ever winner of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. (Reuters)

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? has been tempting contestants in with a top cash prize since 1998, but surprisingly few people have won the jackpot in that time.

Take a look at all of the million-pound quizzers, and what they did next.

Read more: ITV has 'no future commitments' to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire with Jeremy Clarkson

Judith Keppell (2000)

British gameshow contestant Judith Keppel (L) is kissed by 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' host Chris Tarrant at a photocall in Elstree studios Borehamwood, November 20, 2000. Ms Keppel, a distant cousin of Prince Charles' partner Camilla Parker Bowles, will become the first contestant to claim the one million pound (sterling) prize money when the show is broadcast on British television tonight.

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Judith Keppel with host Chris Tarrant. (Reuters)

The first ever person to win the jackpot was garden designer Judith Keppel, who struck lucky when her million-pound question just happened to be about her ancestors, whose tombs she had recently visited in France.

Keppel was asked: "Which king was married to Eleanor of Acquitane?" and correctly answered Henry II.

Following her win, Keppel joined the pro quizzers team on TV show Eggheads, which she retired from in 2022.

David Edwards (2001)

David Edwards also bagged a million. (PA/Alamy)
David Edwards also bagged a million. (PA/Alamy)

Keppel's win prompted a flurry of strong contestants, as David Edwards kicked off a busy year for the show with his 2001 win.

The physics teacher was asked: "If you planted the seeds of Quercus robur, what would grow?" and correctly answered trees.

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Edwards had previously taken part in Mastermind and Fifteen to One, and auditioned to join the Eggheads in spin-off show Make Me An Egghead but lost out to another Millionaire winner, Pat Gibson.

He is the captain of the Welsh national quiz team.

Major Charles Ingram (2001)

Mr Charles Ingram and his wife Diana arriving at Bournemouth Crown Court where he is on trial on charges relating to his home insurance. The former Army major, the figure at the centre of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? fraud trial, made claims totalling more than 30,000 on dishonestly-obtained insurance policies, the court heard today. Ingram, 39, of Easterton, Wiltshire, denies seven charges of deception at the trial.
Charles Ingram and his wife Diana were caught cheating their way to a win. (PA/Alamy)

A controversial entry to the list, Major Charles Ingram never actually received his million pounds as his coughing scandal was uncovered.

Ingram appeared to have become the show's third winner when he answered "a number one followed by one hundred zeros is known by what name?" with "googol", but it emerged that he had cheated his way to the jackpot.

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Producers were suspicious at his last-minute change of heart on question answers - including claiming he didn't know what a googol was when the answers were first listed - and his behaviour, which included arguing with wife Diana shortly after his win.

On watching back, they realised that Diana and a waiting contestant, Tecwen Whittock, were coughing at the correct answers, and a trial saw all three handed suspended prison sentences and fines while a TV drama was made about the scandal.

Robert Brydges (2001)

Robert Brydges the latest jackpot winner on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with wife Marilyn, his son Kempe, 10, and daughter Catherine, nine, holding the 1 million pound cheque at a press conference in London.    * Mr Brydges, 47, of Holland Park, west London, became the fourth million pound winner of the show, which is due to be transmitted on 29/9/01.   (Photo by Michael Stephens - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)
Robert Brydges with his family. (PA)

There was another winner in 2001 - retired banker Robert Brydges, who unlike Ingram won fair and square, taking the jackpot home.

Brydges was asked: "Which scientific unit is named after an Italian nobleman?" and knew that the answer was Volt.

He has kept a lower profile than other winners, not going on to join any other quiz shows.

Pat Gibson (2004)

FILE PICTURE dated 24 April 2004 showing computer programmer Pat Gibson being congratulated by host Chris Tarrant after becoming the fourth and youngest 1 million winner on the quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? The quiz expert was celebrating today after also winning Mastermind. Pat Gibson won the coveted crystal bowl last night without passing on a single question. London, Wednesday 9 November 2005. See PA story SHOWBIZ Mastermind. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Photo credit should read: PA/CELADOR/ITV
Pat Gibson went on to make a career of quizzing. (PA/Alamy)

Computer programmer Pat Gibson has gone on to make a hugely successful career out of quizzing since becoming the show's fourth legitimate winner.

Gibson's million-pound question was: "Which of these is not one of the American Triple Crown horse races?" and gave the right answer of Arlington Million.

He has since won Mastermind, Mastermind Champion of Champions, Brain of Britain, is one of the Eggheads, and is one of the world's most successful quizzers as part of the England national team.

Ingram Wilcox (2006)

Civil servant Ingram Wilcox was the last winner in the show's first incarnation under host Chris Tarrant, which went on hiatus in 2014.

Wilcox had had two previous goes at appearing on the show, but didn't make it past the Fastest Finger First round - until his winning run, where he correctly answered "which boxer was famous for striking the gong in the introduction to J. Arthur Rank films?" with Bombardier Billy Wells.

Despite previous appearances on Mastermind and Fifteen to One, Wilcox seems to have hung up his quizzing boots since winning Millionaire.

Donald Fear (2020)

During Jeremy Clarkson's revival of the quiz, which began in 2018, there has only been one winner so far.

History and politics teacher Donald Fear was asked: "In 1718, which pirate died in battle off the coast of what is now North Carolina?" and credited his head for dates from his job in knowing that the answer was Blackbeard.

Fear has since retired from teaching and used his winnings to travel the UK in a new motorhome after the Covid pandemic put a stop to international holiday plans.