When Charles Ingram walked away from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with the programme’s top £1 million prize in 2001, his victory quickly became one of the most controversial moments in British television history.
The former British Army major and his wife, Diana Ingram, were later convicted after prosecutors argued that a coughing accomplice and a wider network of quiz enthusiasts had helped him identify the correct answers.
The couple have always maintained their innocence, insisting that Charles answered the questions without assistance.
The extraordinary case was revisited in ITV’s three-part drama Quiz, which brought the scandal back into the spotlight and renewed interest in the 15 questions Charles faced on his way to the jackpot.
So, how many could you answer yourself?
Below are the original questions, ranging from the relatively straightforward £100 opener to the £1 million finale.
FEMAIL has revealed the 15 questions Charles Ingram (pictured on the show) has to answer in a bid to scoop the £1 Million prize on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana arriving at Bow Magistrates court in central London where he was accused of dishonestly attempting to win £1 million on ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’
Question 1 — £100
On which would you air laundry?
A: Clothes Horse
B: Clothes Dog
C: Clothe Pig
D: Clothes Rabbit
Question 2 — £200
What name is given to a person who is against increasing the powers of the European Union?
A: Euro-sceptic
B: Eurostar
C: Eurotrash
D: Eurovision
Question 3 — £300
What is butterscotch?
A: Shortbread
B: Pavement game
C: Garden flower
D: Brittle toffee
Question 4 — £500
Which of these is the nickname for a famous Scottish army regiment?
A: Black Cat
B: Black Widow
C: Black Sea
D: Black Watch
Question 5 — £1,000
The Normans, who invaded and conquered England in 1066, spoke which language?
A: German
B: Norwegian
C: French
D: Danish
Question 6 — £2,000
In Coronation Street, who is Audrey’s daughter?
A: Janice
B: Gail
C: Linda
D: Sally
Question 7 — £4,000
The River Foyle is found in which part of the United Kingdom?
A: England
B: Scotland
C: Northern Ireland
D: Wales
Question 8 — £8,000
Who was the second husband of Jacqueline Kennedy?
A: Adnan Khashoggi
B: Ronald Reagan
C: Aristotle Onassis
D: Rupert Murdoch
Question 9 — £16,000
Emmental is a cheese from which country?
A: France
B: Italy
C: Netherlands
D: Switzerland
Question 10 — £32,000
Who had a hit UK album with Born To Do It, released in 2000?
A: Coldplay
B: Toploader
C: A1
D: Craig David
Question 11 — £64,000
Gentlemen v Players was an annual match between amateurs and professionals of which sport?
A: Lawn Tennis
B: Rugby Union
C: Polo
D: Cricket
Question 12 — £125,000
‘The Ambassadors’, in the National Gallery, is a painting by which artist?
A: Van Eyck
B: Holbein
C: Michelangelo
D: Rembrandt
Question 13 — £250,000
What type of garment is an Anthony Eden?
A: Overcoat
B: Hat
C: Shoe
D: Tie
Question 14 — £500,000
Baron Haussmann is best known for his planning of which city?
A: Rome
B: Paris
C: Berlin
D: Athens
The £1 million question
And then came the question that would become synonymous with one of Britain’s biggest TV quiz scandals.
Question 15 — £1,000,000
A number one followed by one hundred zeros is known by what name?
A: Googol
B: Megatron
C: Gigabit
D: Nanomole
Would you have known it?
Charles Ingram jumps with joy after correctly answering the £1million question
The answers
Here are the correct answers to all 15 questions:
- A — Clothes Horse
- A — Eurosceptic
- D — Brittle toffee
- D — Black Watch
- C — French
- B — Gail
- C — Northern Ireland
- C — Aristotle Onassis
- D — Switzerland
- D — Craig David
- D — Cricket
- B — Holbein
- B — Hat
- B — Paris
- A — Googol
The final answer secured Charles Ingram the £1 million jackpot, but his victory soon became the subject of intense scrutiny.
The scandal that shocked Millionaire
Ingram’s appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? took place in 2001. Two years later, Charles and Diana Ingram were found guilty of procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception.
The prosecution’s case centred on allegations that Charles had received help from a coughing accomplice while working his way through the questions. A wider group of quiz enthusiasts was also alleged to have been involved.
Despite the conviction, the Ingrams have continued to maintain that Charles answered the questions himself and did not cheat.
The case became a national sensation, with the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the £1 million win prompting years of debate over exactly what happened inside the Millionaire studio.
And while the drama brought renewed attention to the scandal, the 15 questions themselves remain an intriguing challenge: how many could you have answered without the help of a lifeline, a fellow contestant — or a conveniently timed cough?