First picture of Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant gets the seal of approval from the man himself

The actor plays Tarrant in an ITV drama about the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? coughing scandal 
ITV
Rachel McGrath15 November 2019

Chris Tarrant has revealed what he thinks of the first picture of Michael Sheen playing him, which has been released ahead of the TV drama Quiz.

The show, which will tell the story of the infamous Who Wants to be a Millionaire? coughing scandal, won’t be airing until next year, but ITV unveiled the teaser image on Friday.

Giving his verdict on it during an appearance on This Morning, Tarrant, 73, said: “I’m thrilled that he’s doing it, he’s a brilliant actor, I just hope he’s not going to do the sort of Rory Bremner [impression] and all that stuff.

“I don’t think he will, he’s an actor you know. Very good, very good.”

Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant in the drama Quiz which will be broadcast in 2020
PA

Tarrant also revealed that he recently bumped into Sheen at the Pride of Britain Awards.

He laughed: “Now this guy has been looking at tapes of me for weeks and weeks and suddenly this great big lump taps him on the shoulder and he goes ‘Oh!’. It’s really weird.”

“I didn’t make him do me,” he added.

Giving evidence: The original photo of Chris Tarrant arriving at Southwark Crown Court to give evidence at Charles Ingram's 2003 trial
PA

The photograph shows Sheen in character arriving to give evidence at Southwark Crown Court in the 2003 trial of former army major Charles Ingram, who won £1 million on the quiz.

Dubbed the ‘coughing major’, Ingram was found guilty along with his wife Diana and their accomplice Tecwen Whittock of cheating their way to the top prize on the show in 2001.

Tarrant added that he hopes the drama does not see ITV “make a big deal of that the Major might be innocent”.

Charles and Diana made TV history - even though the episode didn't actually air 
PA Archive/PA Images

“I have sat through so many hours with the police and the Fraud Squad of tapes of Major’s show. He is so guilty,” he said. “Once you look into it, it’s like ‘Oh for God’s sake.’”

Succession actor Matthew Macfadyen will play Ingram while Fleabag actress Sian Clifford stars as his wife, Claire.

Their accomplice, Whittock, will be played by Michael Jibson.

Quiz will air on ITV in 2020. This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am.

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