RAY Heathcote felt the heat but managed to keep his cool during his appearance on Millionaire Hot Seat recently.
The president of the Berwick RSL took home a cool $50,000 in the episode, which aired last Tuesday.
Ray answered one question before passing and taking a seat on the sidelines, only to be called back in for the $50,000 question – what element is not named after a person?
The answer? Helium. “It seemed like it was unreal, like it didn’t really happen,” he said.
“The strange thing was, everyone I spoke to afterwards knew the answer.”
It had been a long day for Ray and his wife who were on set filming from 8am until 6pm – although his episode was the final one of the day.
“It was a long drawn out day and suddenly, in the last minute, I won $50,000,” he said.
“It was lucky I had a question that suited me and I was the last one in the hot seat for the last question.”
Ray said the episode was filmed two months earlier and he had to keep the secret – even from his family, although his wife was in the audience on the day.
Despite countless requests from members of the RSL, the money won’t be spent on rounds of drinks at the bar for the next few months.
Instead Ray will take a trip to London to visit family and see the sights of Europe.
