Quiz ITV – Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheat scandal explained
QUIZ is an ITV drama based on the famous Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheating scandal which took place in 2001.
We take you through the life of Charles Ingram and what happened in this incredible true story.
Is Quiz based on a true story?
In 2001, Major Charles Ingram answered 15 questions correctly to sensationally scoop the jackpot on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
But the cheque was taken from him as he left the studio as suspicions began to surface about how he got the answers right.
A court ruled he had answered the questions through the help of fellow contestant Tecwen Whittock, who coughed to alert him to the right answers.
Whittock, a college lecturer from Cardiff, was waiting in the "fastest finger first" group when the controversy erupted.
A few days after the episode was filmed, Ingram received a message to call Paul Smith, the boss of the company which made the show.
Mr Smith said there were "irregularities" during the taping of the show and it would not be aired.
It was suggested Whittock had been coughing loudly to indicate the right answer, and blew his nose loudly when the major was about to give a wrong answer.
Pagers and mobile phones had been used to help, it was claimed.
The 2003 Southwark Crown Court trial lasted four weeks and heard evidence from Ingram claiming the video tape of the show was "unfairly manipulated".
He insisted he didn't notice the coughing but 192 coughs were recorded during the second night of the show - 32 from the ten Fastest Finger First contestants, with 19 of these "significant".
Prosecutors said these coughs were from Whittock, who claimed to have suffered a persistent cough for his entire life.
All three were convicted of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception on April 7, 2003.
Both Diana and Charles were given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years, while Whittock received a 12-month sentence suspended for two years.
Who is Charles Ingram?
Born in Shardlow, Derbyshire, in 1963, Charles Ingram obtained a degree in civil engineering and a masters in corporate management before joining the Army in 1986.
He became an officer with the Royal Engineers and rose to the rank of major in 1995.
Ingram served in Bosnia for six months on Nato peacekeeping duties.
He was forced to resign from the Army in August 2003 following his court case.
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When was Quiz on ITV?
The show Quiz aired from April 13 to April 15, 2020, on ITV.
You can now watch it on the .
The episodes are an hour long and star Matthew Macfadyen.