Netflix Secures Acclaimed Drama on Notorious Game Show Cheating Scandal
Netflix has acquired the rights to stream the critically acclaimed drama series Quiz, a gripping three-part television production that dramatises one of British television's most infamous cheating scandals. Originally broadcast on ITV in 2020, the series has been widely praised as an addictive and must-watch exploration of truth, deception, and public obsession.
The Real-Life Story Behind the Drama
The series is based on the real events surrounding Charles Ingram, a former army major who appeared on the popular game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2001. Ingram became only the third contestant ever to win the show's £1 million jackpot, but his victory was immediately shrouded in controversy.
Production staff noticed a distinctive pattern of coughing from the audience whenever Ingram correctly repeated potential answers aloud. This orchestrated coughing came from his accomplice, Tecwen Whittock, while Ingram's wife, Diana, was also implicated in the plot. The trio's scheme unravelled when producers identified the suspicious auditory cues, leading to Ingram being dubbed the 'coughing major' in media reports.
The show's producers withheld the £1 million payout, and Ingram was subsequently tried and convicted of fraud, receiving a prison sentence and a substantial fine. This extraordinary true story forms the compelling narrative backbone of the drama series now available on Netflix.
Creative Team and Stellar Cast
Quiz was created by acclaimed playwright James Graham, writer of Dear England, and is adapted from the book Bad Show: the Quiz, the Cough, the Millionaire Major by Bob Woffinden and James Plaskett. The production features an impressive ensemble cast that brings the scandal to life with remarkable nuance.
Matthew Macfadyen portrays Charles Ingram with compelling ambiguity, while Sian Clifford delivers a complex performance as his wife Diana. Michael Sheen appears as the show's iconic host, Chris Tarrant, with Michael Jibson playing accomplice Tecwen Whittock. The supporting cast includes Mark Bonnar as Paul Smith, head of the production company, and the late Helen McCrory as Sonia Woodley QC, who defended Ingram in court.
Critical Acclaim and Audience Reception
First airing during the pandemic in 2020, Quiz attracted significant viewership, with its debut episode peaking at 5.3 million viewers. The series received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and audiences, with many praising its sophisticated treatment of a sensational story.
The Guardian noted at the time of its original broadcast: 'The drama becomes as addictive as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? proved. Clifford, Macfadyen and Trystan Gravelle as Diana's brother Adrian humanise the story while still leaving you boggling at its fathomless oddities.'
Metro added: 'Like any great drama, Quiz balances both farce and high art to a spectacular degree. This is not only a look at how obsessed one country got with trying to win an absurd amount of money on TV, but a dissection about our perception of truth.'
Empire magazine highlighted the series' thematic depth: 'In recreating the court case that unfolded over the eligibility of Ingram's win, Graham's screenplay shifts gear to reveal a modern parable where a quiz show all about finding definitive answers somehow became the stage for a deeply improbable event.'
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Interestingly, lead actor Matthew Macfadyen maintained deliberate ambiguity about his character's guilt throughout production. Writer James Graham revealed on the Final Answer podcast that Macfadyen kept his interpretation close to his chest, while Sian Clifford frequently alternated between believing her character was innocent or guilty.
Graham explained: 'I know that informed her performance at points. But I think Matthew definitely kept his cards very close to his chest. Director Stephen Frears encouraged him to do takes where definitely in his mind, Charles was guilty, and then also did takes where in his mind he wasn't.'
This deliberate ambiguity reflects the series' central theme—the elusive nature of truth in a media-saturated age where competing narratives often obscure objective reality.
With its compelling storytelling, exceptional performances, and timely exploration of truth and deception, Quiz represents a significant addition to Netflix's drama catalogue, offering subscribers a sophisticated and thoroughly engaging viewing experience that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
