Robert Brydges

Robert Kempe Brydges is an Oxford-educated banker from Holland Park, London. He has previously acted as director of GNI Fund Management, an investment brokers firm, earning £300,000 a year and held the position of vice-president of US bank Hanover Trust.

On Sunday, 29th September 2001, he was a winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire UK; depending on whether or not the controversial Charles Ingram, who won just twelve days before on Tuesday, 17th September 2001, is counted, he was either the third or fourth winner. Brydges himself has made light of this fact, calling Ingram and himself winners 3A and 3B.

Controversy
Brydges' participation on the show has raised the ire of Brydges' neighbour, Sarah Elliott, who said "Bob is loaded. When I found out he was going on the show I knew he would win. He’s as sharp as a razor and has no problem under pressure. But gambling on the tricky questions must be a lot easier when you’re already worth millions. I suppose £16,000 must seem like loose change to him." . Elliott's grandmother was less kind, saying "It is so unfair that someone like Robert should be allowed on the show. That family certainly does not need the money. It won't make any difference to them because they're filthy rich and live like millionaires anyway." In addition, the show has been called elitist, with presenter Eamonn Holmes suggested live on GMTV that only millionaires or minor royals had a chance or winning the prize. A spokesperson for Celador responded "Everybody has an equal chance to get on. It is impossible for us to check how much money people already have when they get on the show. We'd love a penniless binman as our next winner, but it never happens."