From Sale of the Century to quiz master on The Chase, meet David Poltorak

Now four decades later, he has worked on some of the biggest game shows around and joins the popular Seven Network show, The Chase Australia as The Professor from early April.

The 67-year-old brings a lifetime of quizzing experience having served as an adjudicator and question writer on numerous Australian quiz shows like Quiz Master, Beat The Chasers and Millionaire Hotseat.

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 (even if his winnings seem measly by today's standards).

He was a part-time taxi driver before he applied for Sale of the Century in 1986.

He had a taxi license, which he gained in 1976. He has been interested in game shows since he was a child. He also co-wrote the 1985 film Emoh Ruo.

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.

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.

In his eight episodes, he set three records for Sale of the Century in Australia:

In 1991, Poltorak replaced Fran Powell as the question writer and adjudicator for Sale of the Century, after an offer from the game show's production company, Grundy Television.

He remained in this role until the show's cancellation in 2001. He then joined the question writing team for Temptation,The Einstein Factor.

The Sydneysider is also a stand-up comedian and was a grand finalist in the 2019 Comedian of the Year Competition.

Poltorak joins a formidable lineup of Chasers: Goliath, The Beast, The Governess, The Smiling Assassin, The Shark, The Supernerd, The Tiger Mum and The Lightning Bolt.