David Poltorak

Last updated

David Poltorak
Born1954or1955(age 69–70)
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Quiz show question writer
Scriptwriter
Quiz show champion
Former taxi driver
Known forwinning Sale of the Century (1986)
scriptwriter of Emoh Ruo (1985)
The Chase Australia (2024–present)

David Poltorak (born 1954/1955) [1] is an Australian television game show contestant and question writer. He became the grand champion of Sale of the Century in 1986, setting a world record for winnings on a television game show at the time. [2] He later worked as a question writer for The Oz Game , [3] Sale of the Century, [4] [5] The Einstein Factor , [6] Temptation , [6] Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? [1] [6] [7] and Millionaire Hot Seat . Nicknamed The Professor, he has been featured as a chaser on The Chase Australia since 2024. [8] [9]

Contents

Early life

Poltorak was a part-time taxi driver before he applied for Sale of the Century in 1986 at 31 years of age. [1] [2] He had a taxi license, which he gained in 1976, but he eventually only spent three months on the road before realising driving was not for him. [4] He has been interested in game shows since he was a child, watching BP Pick-a-Box as a 10-year-old. [1] He decided to enter Coles' $6,000 Question at 16, with World War I as his subject as there was a magazine series on it for sale, at the time. [4] He also co-wrote the 1985 film Emoh Ruo . [5]

Sale of the Century

Poltorak appeared on eight episodes of the Australian version of Sale of the Century in 1986, winning a grand total of A$376,200, including $244,000 in cash and $132,200 in prizes. [2] [1] [5] His total winnings were a world record for a television game show at the time, surpassing the previous record held by Michael Larson on Press Your Luck in 1984. [5]

Poltorak also set three records for Sale of the Century in Australia:

Question writing

In 1989, Poltorak was employed as the head question writer and adjudicator for the third season of the ABC's then-6 pm game show The Oz Game . [3] In 1991, Poltorak replaced Fran Powell as the question writer and adjudicator for Sale of the Century, [4] after an offer from the game show's production company, Grundy Television. [5] He remained in this role until the show's cancellation in 2001. He then joined the question writing team for Temptation , [6] The Einstein Factor , [6] Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in Australia, [1] [6] [7] and later for its spin-off Millionaire Hot Seat . [8]

The Chase Australia

In October 2023, it was reported that Poltorak will debut as a new chaser nicknamed "The Professor" on The Chase Australia in 2024. [8] Poltorak previously appeared as a contestant in the first series of Beat the Chasers Australia in 2020. [8] His Chaser debut on The Chase Australia aired on 8 April 2024. [9]

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 Potts, John (20 November 1986). "Quiz King's party for hipsters and the arty". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 27. Retrieved 20 October 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Maddison, Charles (20 March 1989). "Third time lucky for the Oz Game?". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 75. Retrieved 6 April 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Oliver, Robin (30 September 1991). "Quiz champ sold on Sale". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 56. Retrieved 20 October 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Cockington, James (17 June 1996). "Sold on the Sale". The Guide. The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney: Fairfax Media. p. 58. Retrieved 20 October 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nicholson, Sarah (27 October 2005). "Master knows best". The Courier-Mail . Brisbane: News Limited. p. 4. ProQuest   354094957. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023– via Newsbank.
  7. 1 2 Tarica, Elisabeth (29 May 2003). "Putting a million on the line". The Age . Melbourne: Fairfax Media. p. 3. ProQuest   363625911. Archived from the original on 8 June 2003.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (10 October 2023). "The Professor is coming to The Chase". TV Tonight . Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 Knox, David (2 April 2024). "The Chase reveals The Professor". TV Tonight . Retrieved 5 April 2024.
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