19-03-2025
Who Wants to be a Millionaire £250k winner thanks former teacher
A man who won £250,000 on ITV quiz show Who Wants to to be a Millionaire has thanked his science teacher as the crucial question was based on the periodic Soley, from Swindon, was in Ben Cobbold's class 15 years ago, and said: "Ben was the one who got me into chemistry."Mr Soley was asked by host Jeremy Clarkson what word could be spelled by combining symbols from the periodic table - the answer was physics."I think I could say that's one of the impacts I never thought I'd have on a student. It wasn't quite in my lesson plan at the time," said Mr Cobbold.
Mr Cobbold, who is now the assistant head teacher at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, taught Mr Soley at Swindon to his former teacher on BBC Radio Wiltshire, Mr Soley said: "Thank you sir - I can't thank you enough if I'm honest."You really got me into learning science - it's just something that stuck with me."
Mr Cobbold said he thought Jack had done better on the question than he could have."I'm just really pleased for Jack. I've been teaching science now for 21 years - hopefully some of the students I teach now will take my lessons more seriously!" he said."I'm smiling from ear to ear."
Mr Soley was on the most recent show to air on 16 March, but it had been recorded some time ago, so he had to keep his win a secret for months - something he found tricky."It was just surreal. It still hasn't sunk in. It doesn't feel quite right, but I've had a great time nonetheless," he said."I might wake up in a minute."
He said he did not sleep much the night before the show and was "on edge" for most of the day it was Soley added he and his fiancé are no stranger to quizzes and usually take part in one every won the £250,000 he decided not to try for the £500,000 prize as he was not sure of the answer.
