Eight months on – Telford's TV millionaire Don reflects on life after big win
Eight months ago Donald Fear became the first Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? contestant in 14 years to win the £1 million jackpot.
Since then, Don has given away 70 per cent of his winnings to members of his family and splashed out on a motor home as well a string of home improvements.
Although he is yet to realise his dreams of travelling the world – with those plans on hold during the pandemic – he says his life did get 'exciting' last month with the arrival of his two grandsons, Oliver and Dylan.
The 58-year-old, who also has a two-year-old granddaughter called Emily, said: "Dylan's parents were visiting us from Newton Abbot in Devon, just for a weekend, when Dylan decided to put in an appearance seven weeks early and was born in the Princess Royal Hospital at just 4lb 13oz.
"It was lovely and my wife was able to support our youngest daughter, Isabelle – Dylan's mum – for a time afterwards."
After scooping the £1 million prize on the ITV show last September, the head of history and politics at Haberdashers' Adams in Newport returned to the classroom rather than hanging up his name badge.
He finally said his fond farewells to pupils and staff at the school, where he had taught since 2013, when he retired in December.
A popular teacher, he was overwhelmed with messages both when he won his million and on his retirement.
He said he delved back into his days teaching to win the jackpot. He correctly answered the 15th and final question about the death of a famous pirate in 1718. The father of four, who has been married to his wife, Debs, a nurse, for 33 years, became the sixth champion in the ITV programme’s 22-year history.
