ITV has today released the first trailer for ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ drama ‘Quiz’, which tells the extraordinary and sensational story of how Charles and Diana Ingram attempted an “audacious heist” on the series, and premieres in April 2020.
Major Ingram, his wife Diana, and accomplice Tecwen Whittock, who was sitting in the audience, were accused of cheating their way to a million pounds on what was the most popular game show on earth in 2001. The couple stood trial for conspiring by coughing during the recording to signify the correct answers to the multiple-choice questions posed to the Major by the host, Chris Tarrant.
Directed by globally renowned director, Stephen Frears (‘A Very English Scandal’, ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’, ‘Philomena’, ‘The Queen’) ‘Quiz’ sees Matthew Macfadyen (‘Ripper Street’, ‘Spooks’) play Major Charles Ingram, with Michael Sheen (‘Good Omens’, ‘The Queen’) taking on yet another real-life character, as host Chris Tarrant. Sian Clifford (‘Fleabag’, ‘Vanity Fair’) stars as Diana Ingram, with Mark Bonnar (‘Shetland’, ‘Humans’) as Celador Television Chairman Paul Smith, Helen McCrory (‘Peaky Blinders’) as Sonia Woodley QC, Michael Jibson (‘Les Misérables’, ‘Hatfields & McCoys’) as Tecwen Whittock, and Aisling Bea (‘This Way Up’, ‘The Fall’) as ITV Entertainment Commissioner Claudia Rosencrantz.
The drama is written by playwright James Graham (‘Brexit: An Uncivil War’, ‘This House’) and is produced by Left Bank Pictures, whose chief executive officer and co-founder is former Head of ITV Comedy and Drama, Andy Harries (‘The Crown’, ‘Wallander’, ‘Strike Back’).
James Graham has adapted ‘Quiz’ for ITV from the critically acclaimed, Oliver-nominated play of the same title commissioned by William Village, which premiered in Chichester in 2017 before transferring to the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End in 2018 and played to packed houses. Olivier award-winning James has also written numerous television dramas including ‘Coalition’ and ‘Brexit: The Uncivil War’. His theatre includes the hit Westminster play ‘This House’, and ‘Ink’ about Rupert Murdoch, nominated for a Tony on Broadway last year.
‘Quiz’ premieres April 2020 (exact date/time TBC) on ITV1. The series will air on May 25, 2020, on AMC in the USA.