Judith Keppel
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 Keppel on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? |
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| Born: | 18 August, 1942 |
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| Occupation: | Quiz Champion |
Judith Cynthia Aline Keppel (born 18 August 1942) [1] was the first one million-pound winner on the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom.
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[edit] Career
Keppel appeared on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, broadcast on 20 November 2000. She became the 12th winner in the world and the first winner in the United Kingdom to win one million-pounds. The one million-pound question was; "Which English king was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine?", the correct answer being Henry II.
Now, Keppel appears on the BBC Two quiz show Eggheads, where she and four other quiz champions are pitted against members of the public in general knowledge questions. She is considered particularly strong on history, arts and books, as well as having a good depth of knowledge in most other subjects. However, sport is considered her weakest subject.
[edit] Controversy
Her Who Wants To Be a Millionaire win was at the time very controversial. It was speculated that the win was fixed so that ITV would draw ratings away from BBC One which was showing the last episode of One Foot in the Grave in the same timeslot. However, the ITC cleared Celador and ITV of the allegations.[2]
[edit] Personal life
Keppel is the great-great-granddaughter of William Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle, who was the father-in-law of Alice Keppel, the mistress of Edward VII and was also great-great-grandfather of Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall.[3] The Duchess of Cornwall is therefore her third cousin.
Keppel also works as a garden designer in Fulham, where she is married with two children.
[edit] References
- ^ Charles Mosley (ed.), Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (London: Burke's Peerage, 1999)
- ^ "Millionaire? cleared of ratings 'fix'", BBC News, 15 January, 2001. Retrieved on January 28, 2007.
- ^ Sir William Coutts Keppel, 7th Earl of Albemarle thePeerage.com
