Red Symons, an actor, appeared as a celebrity contestant on a "Celebrity Challenge" episode of Series 6 of the Australian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on 17 July 2000. He won AU$32,000. He became the first celebrity contestant in Australia to reach the $500,000 question, yet also the first Australian contestant to answer the $500,000 question incorrectly.
He appeared again after almost 21 years on the third episode of the short-lived Special Events revival on 2 February 2021. He won AU$1,000 for his charity, children's charity Variety, after incorrectly answering the AU$32,000 question.
From 1839 to '42, China and which other country fought the First Opium War?
⬥ A: Britain
⬥ B: France
⬥ C: Japan
⬥ D: United States
$125,000 (12 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of these is not a play by a David Williamson?
⬥ A: Brilliant Lies
⬥ B: The Removalists
⬥ C: Dead White Males
⬥ D: Hotel Sorrento
$250,000 (13 of 15) - Not Timed
Who in 1960, was our first Australian of the Year? 'Phone-a-Friend' lifeline used
⬥ A: Dame Joan Sutherland
⬥ B: Sir Macfarlane Burnet
⬥ C: Sir John Eccles
⬥ D: Dawn Fraser
$500,000 (14 of 15) - Not Timed
In which field did 16th-century Italian Benvenuto Cellini achieve fame?
⬥ A: Painting
⬥ B: Architecture
⬥ C: Music
⬥ D: Sculpture
Total Prize Won: AU$32,000
Red's Second Run to the Million[]
Red did not get a fastest finger first question, as he was the final remaining contestant to play for $1,000,000.
AU$100 (1 of 15) - Not Timed
An expression describing something of particular irritation to someone is 'like a red rag to a' what?
⬥ A: Prize fighter
⬥ B: Flame
⬥ C: Bull
⬥ D: Fashion victim
AU$200 (2 of 15) - Not Timed
By definition, a person described as 'rolling in it' is which of these?
⬥ A: Energetic
⬥ B: Wealthy
⬥ C: Smelly
⬥ D: Making pizza
AU$300 (3 of 15) - Not Timed
An Australian children's TV character from 'Play School' is the toy named 'Big' who?
⬥ A: Jim
⬥ B: Ted
⬥ C: Pig
⬥ D: Bear
AU$500 (4 of 15) - Not Timed
A common term describing ruffled or unkempt hair is a 'bird's' what?
⬥ A: Nest
⬥ B: Eye
⬥ C: Cage
⬥ D: Feather
AU$1,000 (5 of 15) - Not Timed
In the sentence: 'Arthur quickly jumped out of the bathtub', what is the adverb?
⬥ A: Arthur
⬥ B: Quickly
⬥ C: Jumped
⬥ D: Bathtub
AU$2,000 (6 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of these sitcoms is not named after the actor who plays its title character?
⬥ A: Roseanne
⬥ B: Seinfeld
⬥ C: Cybill
⬥ D: Frasier
AU$4,000 (7 of 15) - Not Timed
How many standard metric cups are in a two-litre bottle of milk? '50:50' lifeline used
⬥ A: 4
⬥ B: 6
⬥ C: 8
⬥ D: 10
AU$8,000 (8 of 15) - Not Timed
The 1986 comedy film 'Three Amigos!' does not star which of these actors?
⬥ A: Steve Martin
⬥ B: Billy Crystal
⬥ C: Martin Short
⬥ D: Chevy Chase
AU$16,000 (9 of 15) - Not Timed
Commonly said to have originated on the caribbean island of Trinidad is which of these dances?
⬥ A: Tango
⬥ B: Jive
⬥ C: Limbo
⬥ D: Foxtrot
AU$32,000 (10 of 15) - Not Timed
Which of these words comes from a French term meaning 'present yourselves'?
⬥ A: Déja-vu
⬥ B: Entrepreneur
⬥ C: Fait accompli
⬥ D: Rendezvous
Before the computer revealed the correct answer, the host incorrectly declared, "you have a guaranteed $32,000 in the pocket. Well played."
Total Prize Won: AU$1,000
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
Red was confident about the answer to the $500,000 question and maintained that he didn't use the 50:50 as he wanted to save it for the million-dollar question.
Red was shown what would have been his $1,000,000 question in an interview. If he had answered his $500,000 question correctly and used the 50:50 for the million, he would have been Australia's first millionaire.
