Millionaire contestant wins £500,000

Mrs Heusser answered 14 questions correctly to win

Mother-of-two Kate Heusser became the biggest female prize winner in the history of British TV by scooping £500,000 on the quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

The 44-year-old celebrated her win by quitting her new job before she had even started it.

She had been due to begin work as a postwoman on Monday, but had to take a day off to attend the show.

And after her win she immediately handed in her notice to Post Office bosses.

I think I was more scared than she was

Chris Tarrant, show host

Mrs Heusser, who lives with husband Peter and children Edward, 14, and Greg, 11, near Brighton in East Sussex, said: "I'm still in shock.

"I don't think it will change what we as a family will do with our lives, but, my God, it will make it easier."

Mrs Heusser originally trained as a solicitor but gave up her career to concentrate on her family and writing.

On the ITV show - broadcast on Thursday - she made it to £64,000 without using a lifeline, then called her friend Ian Lawes, who rightly informed her that a cassowary is a bird.

Mrs Heusser used her other two lifelines on the way to £500,000, but decided to take the money as soon as she saw the million pound question.

She said she now hoped to buy a new home and take her husband to a Grand Prix.

Show host Chris Tarrant said: "Kate was absolutely brilliant. We are all so delighted for her.

"She was very brave and very cool under pressure. I think I was more scared than she was."

Peter Lee, a retired Royal Navy officer from Cardigan in Wales was the first to win £500,000 on the show, in January.

Last month contestant Duncan Bickley lost £218,000 when he gambled for half a million pounds on the game show.