LOCAL DOC IS QUIZ STAR
Clever Andrew scoops £500k
A retired GP from Rutherglen scooped a cool £500k on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? last week.
Andrew Townsley, 53, who practised at a surgery in Easterhouse, was one correct answer away from becoming just the sixth contestant to scoop the maximum prize on the ITV quiz show.
However, he decided to leave with half a million, rather than risk it all on the £1million question when he was unsure of the answer.
Andrew said: “Hindsight is fantastic, but I am very happy with the choice I made. I felt excited and hopeful when I reached the million pound question.”
His final question was: In the history of motor sport, which of these iconic races was held first?
A) Le Mans 24 hours B) Monaco Grand Prix C) Indy 500 D) Isle of Man TT.
Andrew phoned a friend, but she did not know either.
He decided to take the £500,000 he had already won, saying it would be “foolish to go on a whim”.
His prize money would have dropped down to £64,000 if he had got the final question wrong.
Andrew said: “I was disappointed that neither of us felt confident enough to give a definite answer.”
Asked what he will do with the cash, Andrew, who has MS, said: “My wife and I fancied seeing Niagara Falls.
“I’d like to plan to visit sights like that where you could get to in a wheelchair.”
“I would like to continue to support charities [like] young carers and MS Research.
“My condition means I have to make future plans for my care. This will certainly make planning more straightforward.”
Host Jeremy Clarkson called Andrew a “fabulous contender”.