The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
A couple loses it all in ‘Quiz’
While the sound of someone coughing may understandably evoke anxiety in the midst of the current global pandemic, a cough is what led to a scandalous accusation and criminal trial against a game show contestant in 2001, and a new miniseries recounts the sensational tale for TV fans. Game show host Chris Tarrant (Michael Sheen, “Good Omens”) welcomes former British army major Charles Ingram (Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”) to the set of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in the miniseries “Quiz,” premiering Sunday, May 31, on AMC. James Graham wrote the script for the program, which is based on the wildly successful stage play of the same name. The AMCITV production was directed by Stephen Frears, who is known for his films “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988), “High Fidelity” (2000) and “The Queen” (2006).
In “Quiz,” it’s revealed that Ingram’s wife, Diana (Sian Clifford, “Fleabag”), and her brother, Adrian (Trystan Gravelle, “A Discovery of Witches”), are the real quiz show fans, but it’s Charles who ends up in the hot seat on the popular game show. Against the odds, Ingram manages to win the top one-million-pound prize, but there are those behind the scenes who are convinced that he had an accomplice and that he had cheated his way to success by using a cough as a signal to identify a correct answer. And they’re right. That accomplice was college lecturer Tecwen Whittock (Michael Jibson, “Hatfields & McCoys”), a fellow “WWTBAM” contestant who failed to make it past the “Fastest Finger” first round. What follows is a fascinating tale as the couple and their alleged accomplice face a very public criminal trial. The three-episode miniseries drew millions of viewers when it aired in the U.K. back in April, and it’s likely to fare well when it airs in North America due to its sensational real-life storyline. AMC executive Sarah Barnett explained the appeal of the story on amc.com when the production was announced in 2019.
“If this tale was invented, you’d think it too preposterous – the fact that it is true, and told so brilliantly, makes for an unmissable three-part TV event that will entertain and enthrall American audiences every bit as much as their British counterparts,” Barnett said.
She went on to praise the team working both in front of and behind the camera on “Quiz.” Leading man Macfadyen has established himself as a versatile actor, thanks to his work on both sides of the Atlantic. British audiences may know him for his film roles as Mr. Darcy in “Pride & Prejudice” (2005) and Daniel in “Death at a Funeral” (2007), as well as his television roles as Edmund Reid in “Ripper Street” and Joe in “Criminal Justice.” In America, he’s famous for his work in the movie “Frost/Nixon” (2008) and HBO’s “Succession.” Welsh actor and activist Sheen, who lights up the screen as real-life Tarrant, started out his career onstage, earning multiple Laurence Olivier Award nominations. More recently, he’s become known for biographical performances as Tony Blair in the television production “The Deal” (2003) and the films “The Queen” (2006) and “The Special Relationship” (2010). Sheen may be familiar to American audiences from his role as a serial killer in the Fox drama “Prodigal Son.”
Clifford is best known for her portrayal of Claire in the BBC comedy-drama “Fleabag,” which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The English actress also memorably played Martha Crawley in the ITV/Amazon Studios series “Vanity Fair.” Olivier Award-winning actor Jibson is, like Sheen, better known for his stage work. But he’s had some memorable roles for which audiences may remember him. His film credits include “Flyboys” (2006), “Panic Button” (2011), “Beauty and the Beast” (2017) and “Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi” (2017). On television, he’s appeared in the U.S. miniseries “Hatfields &
McCoys” as well as the TV movie “Saints & Strangers.” “Quiz” also stars Mark Bonnar as TV producer Paul Smith, who becomes suspicious of Ingram’s success on the program and vows to get to the bottom of what’s really going on. Bonnar is known in the U.K. for his work in the crime drama “Shetland,” the medical drama “Casualty,” the psychological thriller “Psychoville” and the police procedural “Line of Duty.” Also of note is Helen McCrory as barrister Sonia Woodley QC, who defends Charles and Diana in court. Like Sheen, she has a reputation for biographical roles and has played Cherie Blair in both “The Queen” (2006) and “The Special Relationship” (2010). On the big screen, she’s appeared in “Charlotte Gray” (2001), “Skyfall” (2012) and “MotherFatherSon.” She also memorably played Narcissa Malfloy in the final three Harry Potter films. However, millions of TV fans know her as domineering matriarch Polly Gray in “Peaky Blinders.”
Together, the talented cast brings to life a tale in which fact is stranger than fiction, but viewers would be wise to remember that the show is a dramatization of the story. Although the Ingrams may have been convicted in the scandalous case, news recently broke that they were looking to ask the court of appeal to overturn those convictions. As they prepare to head to the courts once again, TV viewers can watch the drama unfold in “Quiz,” premiering Sunday, May 31, on AMC.