British 'Millionaire' Guilty Of Cheating
A British Army major was found guilty Monday of cheating his way to the top prize on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" by using a coughing accomplice in the audience.
The jury at London's Southwark Crown Court found Charles Ingram, who correctly answered the million-pound (US$1.58 million) question on the hit show, was found guilty of relying on a coughing friend, Tecwen Whittock.
Whittock, 53, a college teacher, was found guilty of using "coded coughs" to signal the right answers as Ingram, 39, progressed to the top prize.
Ingram's wife Diana, 38, was also convicted of involvement in the scheme.
Although Ingram correctly answered the final question for the top prize, the episode never aired and his check was withheld because of the cheating allegations.
Whittock and the Ingrams each denied a charge of "procuring the execution of a valuable security by deception."
Both Ingrams had appeared on the show previously — Diana Ingram won 32,000 pounds (US$50,900) and Charles Ingram failed to get past a qualifying round.
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" was created in Britain and became an instant evening television hit. Versions of the show have since spread to numerous countries, including the United States.