When is Quiz on ITV, who's in the cast with Sian Clifford and Matthew Macfadyen, and what is the drama about?

The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? coughing scandal has been turned into a prime-time drama
ITV/Left Bank Pictures
Kimberley Bond7 April 2020

The coronavirus crisis may have forced us all inside as the country is put on lockdown, but at least there are some stellar dramas on the Spring schedules.

ITV’s latest drama Quiz takes an in-depth look at the Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? coughing scandal that gripped the nation in 2001 and saw Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana accused of stealing a million pounds from Britain’s favourite quiz show.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming drama…

When is Quiz on TV?

Quiz premieres on Monday, 13 April at 9pm on ITV.

Host: Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant in the drama 
PA

The series will consist of three one hour episodes and be broadcast over three consecutive nights.

Who is in the cast of Quiz?

Succession’s Matthew Macfayden stars as the accused contestant, Major Charles Ingram, while Sian Clifford (Fleabag) plays his wife, Diana.

Michael Sheen plays former Millionaire host Chris Tarrant (complete with fake tan and blonde wig), while Helen McCrory will star as the judge in the inquiry.

The show is written by James Graham, who wrote the 2017 stage edition, and is directed by Stephen Frears, who previously directed on A Very English Scandal and 2006 film The Queen.

Clifford and Macfayden as the infamous couple (ITV / Left Bank Pictures)
ITV/Left Bank Pictures

What is Quiz about?

Quiz is an in-depth look at the 2001 scandal that rocked game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

Major Charles Ingram took the top prize, but was never officially awarded his million pound cheque after members of the production team noticed a suspicious amount of coughing coming from fellow contestant Tecwen Whittock.

Both the major and his wife were then accused of defrauding the show and having an accomplice in the audience.

Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, the Major and Diana were given a suspended sentence of 18 months, while Whittock had 12 months. They were each fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 towards prosecution costs. The Ingrams were also asked to pay additional defence costs, with their total coming to £115,000.

The real Charles and Diana Ingram outside Southwark Crown Court in April 2003
Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Is Quiz based on the stage play?

Yes it is - with writer James Graham serving as the writer and executive producer of the television version. He based the play on 2015 book Bad Show: The Quiz, the Cough, the Millionaire Major - which asked whether the Ingrams may have been innocent.

After a successful run in Chichester, the stage version of Quiz transferred to London's West End in March 2018, and was previously scheduled to tour the UK this year - however, the coronavirus crisis has scuppered these plans.

The show was nominated for two Olivier Awards, for Best New Comedy and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Keir Charles, who played Chris Tarrant on stage.

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Quiz was unique as it incorporated elements of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire's unique game play element into the production, with audiences asked to vote at the start of the play on a fastest finger first-type as to whether they believed the Ingrams were innocent, and to vote again at the end.

Speaking about the play, Graham told the Standard: "Back then in 2001 I was obsessed with the idea that a middle class, middle aged couple would try and steal a million quid in front of the cameras.

"It’s not British fair play. But what if the Major had just been coughing and it had been edited so they looked guilty?”

Quiz launches Monday April 13 at 9pm on ITV

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