by Hayley Robinson

A £1 million prize would have been nice but in the end Gordon Dodd was more than happy to walk away with £50,000 after appearing on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Viewers of the ITV1 programme on Tuesday night will have seen the married father of two, from Sittingbourne, answer the first four questions by himself.

But he was forced to use his first lifeline – ask the audience, when he was unsure of the £10,000 question: “Which character gives the directions ‘second to the right and straight on til morning’?”

The £50,000 question saw Gordon use his 50/50 lifeline he gave a sigh of relief when the show’s host Chris Tarrant revealed he had chosen the right answer.

Safe in the knowledge that he wouldn’t lose the money if he attempted the £75,000 question, Gordon decided to give it ago.

But when it became clear he didn’t know the answer he used his last lifeline and called his brother-in-law Martin Clowes for help. Sadly the time ran out before he could give Gordon an answer.

Gordon’s wife of 38 years Doreen, who was sitting in the audience, applauded her husband as a cheque for £50,000 was presented to him.

The money has helped the couple no end as Gordon was one of the ASW steelmill workers who lost his pension when the firm went bust.

He now works at Thamesteel Limited as a maintenance fitter.

The 59-year-old, of Adelaide Drive, said: “We used the money to pay off some of the mortgage, I gave some money to my two sons, I bought myself a new motorbike – a Triumph Bonneville, and it freed up some money for me to invest after I lost my pension.

“Doreen and I sat down to watch the show on Tuesday night, it was actually filmed in May, and I was almost as nervous as I was on the night.

“The money has made a big difference to our lives. It was terrifying but I really enjoyed it. Without meaning to sound greedy it’s just a shame I didn’t win £1million.”