Rachel Golding, formerly Mendes da Costa, from Edgware, Middlesex, was the first female contestant (and second overall) to appear on the UK version of the show and worldwide on 4–5 September 1998.
She was also the first ever contestant to use the "Ask the Audience" lifeline and the first to use any lifeline before the second milestone question.
She walked away with £8,000.
WWTBAM Run[]
Fastest Finger First[]
| Fastest Finger First Question | |
| Which singer's only UK No. 1 hit was "Wherever I Lay My Hat" in 1983? | |
| ⬥ A: Joe Cocker | ⬥ B: Paul Young |
| ⬥ C: Elvis Costello | ⬥ D: Damian |
| From the 9 remaining contestants, 7 got it right, but Rachel (with a time of 0.69 seconds) was the fastest to correctly answer B: Paul Young, making it into the Hot Seat. |
Rachel's Run to the Million[]
| £100 (1 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| If you are in your "birthday suit", what are you wearing? | |
| ⬥ A: Your best clothes | ⬥ B: Your work clothes |
| ⬥ C: A nappy | ⬥ D: Nothing |
| £200 (2 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| As what did Dr. Crippen find fame earlier this century? | |
| ⬥ A: Surgeon | ⬥ B: Murderer |
| ⬥ C: Dentist | ⬥ D: Psychologist |
| £300 (3 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| At what temperature on the Centigrade scale does water boil? | |
| ⬥ A: Zero degrees | ⬥ B: 32 degrees |
| ⬥ C: 100 degrees | ⬥ D: 212 degrees |
| £500 (4 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Who was Bonnie's famous partner in crime? | |
| ⬥ A: Langford | ⬥ B: Clyde |
| ⬥ C: James | ⬥ D: Butch |
| The klaxon called time and Rachel would return the next day on £500 with all 3 lifelines still available. |
| £1,000 (5 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which fish, spelt backwards, gives the name of one of the Seven Dwarves? | |
| ⬥ A: Pike | ⬥ B: Cod |
| ⬥ C: Haddock | ⬥ D: Eel |
| £2,000 (6 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is an abacus? | |
| ⬥ A: A counting device | ⬥ B: A bird |
| ⬥ C: A female abbot | ⬥ D: A tree |
After winning £4,000, a relieved yet nervous Rachel struggles with her glass of water.
| £4,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is the name of the cafe owner played by Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca'? '50:50' and 'Ask The Audience' lifelines used | |
| ⬥ A: Sam | ⬥ B: Kyle |
| ⬥ C: Jack | ⬥ D: Rick |
| Ask the Audience Results: A: 31% ⬥ B: 0% ⬥ C: 0% ⬥ D: 69% | |
| This marked the first use of the 'Ask the Audience' lifeline as Graham Elwell did not use it in the first episode. |
Rachel answers correctly to win £8,000.
| £8,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| What is the most common bird of prey found in the United Kingdom? | |
| ⬥ A: Kestrel | ⬥ B: Red Kite |
| ⬥ C: Golden Eagle | ⬥ D: Barn Owl |
"Dad, help me!"
"I'm not going to even tell you what would have happened...
"You would've won £16,000." A disappointed Rachel misses out on doubling her money.
| £16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed | |
| Which English county has a border with only one other? 'Phone-a-Friend' lifeline used | |
| ⬥ A: Devon | ⬥ B: Norfolk |
| ⬥ C: Cornwall | ⬥ D: Kent |
| Rachel wasn't sure, so she phoned her father John. After reading the question and four possible answers, this exchange occurred:
JOHN: I have no idea. (Audience groans and sighs) JOHN: I'm sorry, Rachel, I can't help you on geography. Erm, give me them again? (Rachel reads the options again, her voice quavering) JOHN: Devon, Norfolk... RACHEL: Dad, help me! JOHN: Take the eight grand, Rach. Rachel immediately took the advice from her father and walked away. If she had played, she would have said C: Cornwall, which was the correct answer. |
Trivia[]
In the ITV drama Quiz
- In the 1999 documentary Is That Your Final Answer?, executive producer Paul Smith said that Rachel's appearance on the show during the second programme was "the most exciting and dramatic piece of television and it has rarely been matched in the rest of the programmes that we've [Celador] had."
- Chris Tarrant says in his book Millionaire Moments that Rachel told him that in the night in between her first appearance and her second she had "hardly slept a wink", had been talking to her father over the phone for reassurance and was "terrified" that she would answer the £1,000 question incorrectly and go home with absolutely nothing.
- Fragments of her run feature in the ITV drama Quiz.
- She spoke about her run in the documentary series The Million Pound Question in 2020.
- According to a member of the studio audience, after failing to answer her £16,000 question, she got very angry. The crew made her redo this section after they had filmed the rest of the episode. The whole episode took about 4 hours to complete.
Sources[]
Rachel's run to the million (episode 1)- Rachel's run to the million (episode 2, part 1)
- Rachel's run to the million (episode 2, part 2)
- Rachel's run to the million (episode 2, part 3)
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| Preceded by Graham Elwell |
UK Contestant (Series 1) Rachel da Costa |
Succeeded by Arlene Harper |