The true story behind Britain’s biggest quiz show scandal
An enthralling drama mini-series has just landed on Netflix, and recalls the bizarre scandal of how a contestant on a British quiz show went all the way.
British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has been running on and off since 1998, with Chris Tarrant being the first to front the show.
Jeremy Clarkson took the reigns in 2018, when the show returned after a four-year hiatus.
Major Charles Ingram, who cheated his way to the jackpot on TV quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire, stands with his wife, Diana, outside their home. Pic: PA Images
Over the years there have been seven contestants to win the top prize of £1 million, with Charles Ingram being one of those fortunate brainboxes.
Former Army major Ingram won the top prize in 2001, and at the time became the third person to ever win the jackpot prize.
Despite using two out of his three lifelines early on in the game, Ingram made it all the way to the million pound question.
British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? has been running on and off since 1998, with Chris Tarrant being the first to front the show. Pic: PA Images
Ingram won despite a number of instances where he had claimed not to know what one of the answers to a question meant, but then subsequently chose said answer.
Following his huge win, Ingram was searched by producers who had grown very suspicious of his antics throughout the show.
Even though nothing came up during the search, the jackpot payout was suspended until a full review and investigation into the matter was carried out.
Charles Ingram and his wife Diane make a statement outside Court. Pic: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
As he neared the final questions, show bosses noted that his behaviour became increasingly erratic. He began changing his answers, and it was later revealed that a pattern of suspicious coughing from the audience occurred whenever the correct options were read aloud.
In the end, Ingram, his wife Diana, and a fellow contestant, Whittock, were arrested and convicted of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception.
The Ingrams received an 18-month suspended sentence and were fined £15,000, along with £10,000 in costs. Whittock received a sentence six months shorter, a £10,000 fine, and was ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.
Charles Ingram and his wife Diana sell copies of his book and other merchandise at a car boot sale. Pic: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
In the year that followed, Ingram wrote two novels and appeared on several television programmes, including The Games, The Weakest Link, and Wife Swap.
Two years after their appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, the Ingrams were charged with additional fraud offences unrelated to the show.
Ingram was later given a conditional discharge for fraudulently claiming £30,000 in insurance. In sentencing, the judge said he had taken into account ‘the punishment [Ingram] had brought upon himself’ and his ‘dire financial state,’ and rejected community service after Ingram told a probation officer he feared being bullied by other offenders.
ITV’s 2020 mini-series Quiz stars Matthew Macfadyen as ingram, Sian Clifford as his wife Diana, and Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant.
Other cast members include Mark Bonnar who played Paul Smith, the head of the company who produced the show, Helen McCrory who was the Ingrams lawyer in court and Michael Jibsen who played the role of a man who aided the cheating take place.
Released in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Quiz received rave reviews, and has now dropped on streaming giant, Netflix where it is quickly jumped into the Top 10 trending charts.
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