THE TV programme which claimed to expose how Major Charles Ingram cheated to win the top prize in the TV quiz Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? attracted over 16 million viewers to put it well up the top ten shows of 2003.
Figures published this week by the Broadcasters Audience Research Bureau (BARB) put the Millionaire Tonight Special at fourth spot in the national ratings with a 56 per cent share of the viewing public when it was shown on ITV1 on April 21, shortly after Charles and Diana Ingram, from Easterton, near Devizes, were convicted of fraud in connection with the programme.
It had been alleged that the couple connived with Cardiff-based college lecturer Tecwen Whittock to defraud the makers of the series, Celador, of the million-pound top prize.
Whittock, who was also convicted, had coughed to indicate the correct answer of four multiple choices while Ingram seemed to vacillate from one answer to another.
The programme even beat the controversial Martin Bashir interview with Michael Jackson into fifth place, with a mere 15.3 million viewers.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article