Millionaire producers suspect Charles Ingram cheated on final ad break before winning

Who wants to be a millionaire? Producers already suspected that Charles Ingram was cheating minutes before his victory on the show in 2001 – it is claimed in ITV’s new drama about the scandal, Quiz.

The moment host Chris Tarrant confirmed that he had answered the final question correctly and won the £ 1m first prize, he was cheered and celebrated.

But behind the scenes, the crew already suspected foul play and that Charles was not being honest.

For strange reasons to choose answers, and even choosing options that he had already ruled out, there were a number of things that alerted bosses to possible pitfalls.

Later, it was revealed that the coughing coming from the audience was a method used to give Ingram the correct answers, helping him earn a lot of money.

A clip from the ITV questionnaire revealed the moment when producers began to question events, and even contemplated stopping the show before filming ended.

In fact, it was the last advertising break from the dramatic episode and, just a few minutes before the victory, there was apparently a conversation next to the studio, with suspicion that Charles was a cheater.

At this point, Charles’s fate was already sealed with his confirmed victory, but only the new Chris received this, and Charles had to wait until after the break to find out if he was correct.

It was Celador Television President Paul Smith and David Briggs who discussed what to do in those brief moments before the end of the infamous episode.

If the scenes in Quiz are accurate, the couple did not want to raise the alarm with Chris or Charles, and instead decided on the best option.

Briggs suggested that they stop the episode at that time, to stop the victory in the future.

But believing they were watching some of the show’s biggest scenes, some that would prove life-changing, Smith wanted the show to continue and he wasn’t sure that stopping it suddenly would be the best idea.

Of course, the show continued, and Charles feigned surprise when he was confirmed as the winner of the million pound prize.

Viewers at the time would have had no idea as they watched the celebration, that those behind the scenes were already on to something huge.

The show has given an insight into what really happened that night and how one of the biggest television scandals occurred.

The test continues on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9pm on ITV.