Millionaire mystery awaits final answer

Did he or didn't he? All will be revealed on ITV's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? tonight, but yesterday an unemployed Belfast…

Did he or didn't he? All will be revealed on ITV's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? tonight, but yesterday an unemployed Belfast man, Steve Devlin, remained tight-lipped about whether he had scooped £1 million or just grabbed his £500,000 winnings and run.

The alternative, that Mr Devlin had gambled and lost £438,000, did not bear thinking about. On Thursday night viewers watched as the 53-year-old got through 14 questions, using all three lifelines, taking him up to £500,000 before the hooter sounded, signalling the end.

The programme which sees Mr Devlin make his final move was recorded on Tuesday. To the amazement of the production company, Celador, by yesterday evening the outcome had still not been leaked.

Members of the audience watching Judith Keppel, the only person to win a million on the show to date, leaked the result to newspapers last November.

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Mr Devlin, said by programme insiders to be "a shy and private man", almost didn't make it on to the show. Eighteen months ago he got through to the final 10 but chickened out of taking part in the "fastest finger first" round, flying home to Belfast after suffering a panic attack. Since then he had been trying to get back on the show.

Even though his quiz-show performance is now over, he could not bear to watch himself on television on Thursday night and switched it off before the £500,000 question, "What famous aircraft was designed by Reginald Mitchell?" (Answer: Spitfire). During the show a nervous Mr Devlin drank so much water while being grilled in the hot seat that presenter Chris Tarrant offered him his own glass.

The worst moment came when he phoned a friend to ask which Dickens's novel featured the sisters, Charity and Mercy Pecksniff. Mr Devlin had to repeat the question, and time ran out before his friend, a quiz-show fanatic, could answer. He then used his 50-50 lifeline and correctly chose Martin Chuzzlewit from the two remaining answers, bringing his total to £250,000.

Whatever the outcome tonight, Belfast citizens will have their own reason to celebrate. Showing support for Mr Devlin, and a good eye for a publicity stunt, the folk at the Botanic Inn in Belfast have announced that people who come to the pub to watch the programme will get a free pint of Guinness. Who wants to be a drinker there?