money Chris Tarrant's son Toby hails Michael Sheen's 'brilliant' performance in 'Quiz'
Chris Tarrant’s son Toby has hailed Michael Sheen’s portrayal of his dad in Quiz.
The Welsh actor is playing the gameshow host in the new ITV drama, which tells the story of the infamous Major Charles Ingram coughing scandal on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Radio X DJ Toby, 28, tweeted: “Really enjoyed #Quiz tonight, looking forward to the rest of it @michaelsheen as expected is brilliant as Dad...
Really enjoyed #Quiz tonight, looking forward to the rest of it @michaelsheen as expected is brilliant as Dad...
To be fair, he's so good he'd probably be convincing as my Norwegian auntie Tina— Toby Tarrant (@tobytarrant) April 13, 2020
He quipped: “To be fair, he's so good he'd probably be convincing as my Norwegian auntie Tina.”
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The Good Omens actor has made a name for himself playing recognisable British stars on screen having portrayed Tony Blair (The Deal/The Queen/The Special Relationship), Kenneth Williams (Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!), David Frost (Frost/Nixon), and Brian Clough (The Damned United).
Sheen stars as Chris Tarrant in the three-part drama about Major Ingram and his wife Diana’s attempts to cheat the popular TV quiz in 2001. They took home the jackpot after planting friend Tecwen Whittock in the audience so he could cough when Ingram read out the correct answers.
Spooks star Matthew McFadyen is playing Major Ingram and Fleabag’s Sian Clifford will appear as his wife. The drama, directed by ward-winning filmmaker Stephen Frears, also stars Peaky Blinders’ Helen McCrory will also be in the series as the Ingram’s lawyer Sonia Woodley QC.
Hit quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? sees contestants answer multiple choice questions which increase in difficulty as the prize money stakes rise, with the help of several lifelines, including Phone A Friend.
Ingram scooped the top prize of £1 million in September 2001 but the show’s production company Celador refused to pay out when it suspected he was guilty of cheating.
Charles and Diana Ingram, along with Whittock, were all found guilty of "procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception" in 2003 and were given two year prison sentences.
The first episode saw Diana's brother Adrian try everything in his desperate attempts to get his chance in the hot seat.
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Another contestant suggests he call Paddy Spooner, who appeared on the gameshow in three different countries, UK, Ireland and Australia, winning £250,000 on the UK version.
While Spooner was not a real person, his fictional character claims to be a part of the ‘The Syndicate’ - an underground team of serial quizzers who can help with correct answers - in return for a 25% share of the winnings.
Quiz was initially a play written by James Graham and has run in the West End.
It continues on ITV on Tuesday, 14 April at 9pm.
