So close to being a millionaire (From Warrington Guardian)

So close to being a millionaire

A SPLIT-SECOND cost a Warrington man the chance of becoming a millionaire on a top television game show.

Ken Finney, who works at YMCA training in Rylands Street, was close to taking the hot seat on the hit show 'Who Wants To be A Millionaire' but another fast-fingered contestant just beat him to it.

He said: "I was a bit disappointed to get so far and them miss out by so little. But I had a fantastic weekend away in London.

"I was on the show where one contestant left with nothing. He got a question wrong about the name of a Jane Austin novel and to be honest I didn't know that one either. I think if you know the answer the questions are easy and if you don't they're not - it's as simple as that!"

The game show hopeful had to go through several stages before competing for the big money. First, Ken rang the show's number and answered a question to put his name on a list. Then he was called a few days later asking him some qualifying questions.

"The qualifying questions were actually more difficult than the ones on the show. They asked me how many sheets of paper were in a reem and how many British MPs sat in the European Parliament."

Ken has rung the hot-line for a chance at another appearance - from the show's dressing room.

And what would Ken do if he did win that elusive million pounds? "I've heard there's an island for sale in Scotland -I'd be quite interested in that. Or, as a big fan of motor sports, I'd love to follow the Grand Prix all over Europe."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.