ITV & AMC Commission Quiz

The real-life Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? cheating scandal involving Charles and Diana Ingram is being dramatized as a three-parter for ITV and AMC.

In 2001, Major Charles Ingram, his wife Diana and an accomplice, Tecwen Whittock (who was sitting in the audience), were accused of cheating their way to a million pounds on the popular game show. The couple stood trial for conspiring by coughing during the recording to signify the correct answers to the multiple-choice questions. Directed by Stephen Frears (A Very English Scandal, Philomena, The Queen), Quiz stars Matthew Macfadyen as Major Ingram, Michael Sheen as TV presenter Chris Tarrant and Sian Clifford as Diana Ingram.

The drama is written by playwright James Graham (Brexit: An Uncivil War, This House, Labour of Love) and will be produced by Left Bank Pictures.

ITV’s head of drama, Polly Hill, said: “I am delighted to be bringing James Graham’s wonderful play Quiz to screen on ITV. It’s testament to James’ brilliant scripts that Stephen Frears is directing, which together with Left Bank Pictures producing, promises to deliver a very special drama. It’s an extraordinary and thoroughly British story and is going to be a real treat for our audience.”

Sarah Barnett, president of the entertainment networks group at AMC Networks, said: “If this tale was invented you’d think it too preposterous—the fact that it is true, and told so brilliantly, makes for an unmissable three-part TV event that will entertain and enthrall Americans audiences every bit as much as their British counterparts. Quiz has the most remarkable bunch of talented people attached both in front of and behind the camera, and we, at AMC, are delighted to be part of it.”

Graham added: “I was gripped by this story over 15 years ago, and I’m still gripped now. It’s a very English heist. Putting it onto stage at Chichester and the West End was such a lot of fun, and with a new team we now get to reimagine the whole story afresh for television. I have to pay credit to the late investigative journalist Bob Woffinden, who along with James Plaskett wrote the book Bad Show that kicked the whole creative process off by asking the question—what if the Major is innocent?”

Andy Harries, Left Bank Pictures’ CEO and co-founder, said: “This is a uniquely British story, as relevant and funny today as it was 18 years ago because the brilliance of James Graham’s writing and his insight into British cultural life. And no one directs this sort of story better than Stephen Frears.”