Sharon Cain
Time for Life Correspondent
1:00 AM 5th October 2023
arts
Perfect Pick Me Up: Rory Bremner In Millionaire Coughing Scandal
In the hot seat: Lewis Reeves as Charles Ingram and Rory Bremner as Chris Tarrant. Image by Johan Persson
Satirical impressionist supremo, Rory Bremner, is smashing it as Chris Tarrant in
Quiz – a fast paced drama based on the notorious
Who Wants to Be A Millionaire ‘Coughing Major’ scandal.
The high-profile scam, which took place in 2001, centred on disgraced army officer, Charles Ingram, who was nicknamed the 'Coughing Major’.
Ingram secured the £1million jackpot after answering 15 questions correctly, aided by his wife Diana and fellow contestant, Tecwen Whittock, (Michael Jibson) who coughed when the correct multiple-choice answers were read out.
In the headline-grabbling, real-life drama, the Ingrams were handed down an 18-month prison sentence which was suspended for two years for cheating and each fined £15,000.
In British playwright James Graham’s version of events the show - directed by Daniel Evans and Seán Linnen - adds a new dimension.
The Cast of Quiz.
Image by Johan Persson
Presenting new evidence, the onus is now on the audience to give their verdict on whether the Ingrams and their accomplice were guilty or not.
Matthew Macfadyen – whose film credits include Mr Darcy in the 2005 adaptation of
Pride and Prejudice,
Anna Karenina and
Operation Mincemeat, plays Charles Ingram. Sian Clifford, best known as Claire in BBC comedy
Fleabag takes on the role of Diana.
Rory Bremner as Chris Tarrant and Charley Webb playing Diana Ingram. Image by Johan Persson
Quiz is only the second drama that Rory Bremner has starred in, the first being Noël Coward’s Relative Values.
The four times Bafta winner has shared how: “Chris says he hates my impression of him, which makes it even more fun!” and relishes playing a character over a whole play as opposed to a short sketch.
He’s also joked that he avoided becoming immersed in the role too soon - apparently because it would be too much for his wife to live with Chris Tarrant for six months!
With celebrated reviews packed with superlatives including ‘utterly compelling’, ‘exuberantly entertaining’ and ‘furiously exciting’ the drama’s storming success - is unquestionable.
Quiz plays at Newcastle Theatre Royal until Saturday 7 October 2023. Tickets can be purchased at
www.theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 0191 232 7010.
The two-and-a-half-hour production is also touring the UK. Venues include The Lowry Theatre at Salford, from Tuesday 24-Saturday 28 October 2023.