it promises to be an exciting episode of Million Dollar Minute today
Lisa Paton, 38, won $500,000 yesterday on Million Dollar Minute but chose not to take the money and will o play on for the magical $1 million dollars on the popular quiz show.
A single mother from Melbourne with a background in early childhood management, Lisa is the first contestant since the quiz show’s inception to play for the ultimate jackpot level – $1 million dollars. By refusing to take the $500,000 jackpot today, and opting to continue on the show, Lisa risks losing $423,000.
She faces three possible outcomes at the conclusion of today’s episode
Win the contestant elimination round and then succeed at the Million Dollar Minute jackpot by correctly answering five questions in 60 seconds and Lisa becomes an instant millionaire with a place in Australian TV quiz show history.
Win the contestant elimination round but fail at the Million Dollar Minute jackpot round and she returns to play the next day.
Lose the contestant elimination battle at the hands of a new opponent and Lisa will leave the show with the ‘safety net’ jackpot of $75,000 plus $2,000 in safe money.
Host Simon Reeve said he has never seen anyone play the game with such courage.
“Lisa is by far the bravest contestant I have ever known. And this is the most tense I have ever felt as a quiz show host,” Simon said.
Having already survived 10 episodes of Million Dollar Minute, Lisa is also now the program’s longest-running contestant. She said it was never her intention to go on the show. She was at auditions initially to support a friend. “A friend asked me to accompany him to the auditions and I thought since I was there I may as well have a go too…and now here I am playing for one million dollars.”
Lisa credits her success to a good memory and passion for learning. “When I was 11 years old I had already read hundreds of books – historical fiction, Charles Dickens and Tolstoy,” she said.
Lisa Paton’s record-breaking game on Million Dollar Minute airs Tuesday, 20th May at 5.30pm on Channel 7.
