Quiz show contestant thanks teacher after £250k win

A man who won £250,000 on the ITV quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire has thanked his science teacher as the crucial question was based on the periodic table.

Jack 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, 26, 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 Academy.

Speaking 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.

He said: "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! 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 had not slept much the night before the show and had been "on edge" for most of the day it was recorded.

Mr Soley added he and his fiance were no strangers to quizzes and usually took part in one every week.

Having won the £250,000, he decided not to try for the £500,000 prize as he was not sure of the answer.

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