Smirk and fire...Sheen’s passion for Tarrant scandal
MICHAEL Sheen thought he had given up portraying real people – but the lure of playing TV host Chris Tarrant in the Coughing Major scandal proved too hard to resist.
The actor, 50, had become well-known for his portrayals of high-profile figures, including Tony Blair, Brian Clough and Kenneth Williams.
But speaking at an event in Pasadena, California, he said: “I’d been more resistant to playing real people for a while, because I became so known for it, but this project I just loved. The story was so extraordinary.”
This latest role sees him playing Tarrant in ITV drama Quiz, which dramatises the infamous Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheating scandal.
Major Charles Ingram, played by Matthew Macfadyen, was accused alongside his wife Diana, played by Sian Clifford, and a third man of using an elaborate coughing system to win the £1million prize.
The three-part series, directed by Stephen Frears, will air on ITV later this year.
A MIDWIFE told yesterday she was left stunned when she won a share of £1million – after buying some scratchcards while shopping for vegetables.
Hayley Parker, 30, said she tossed some National Lottery scratchcards in her basket when she went to pick up some broccoli and spinach for a dinner she was hosting on Christmas Eve.
However, after her Merry Millions ticket proved to be a winner her family syndicate of seven are now taking home around £143,000 each.
Hayley, from Romford, Essex, said: “We had all of the family round.
Shock
“We were having a less traditional Christmas dinner, a pasta bake. After eating we did the scratchcards.”
At first, Hayley thought it was a prank, having been tricked with joke tickets before.
She explained: “I didn’t believe it, I just didn’t believe it at all.
“My stepdad had actually got me a fake scratchcard last year, so I thought I’d won a million last year.”
Hayley will share the winnings with her partner, Matt Munn, 28, who has already splashed out on a Range
Rover with his cash. She is also planning on doing a Masters degree.
Hayley’s twin, Kelly, a full-time mother, plans to use her share of the cash to take her young daughter to Disneyland. Hayley added: “It’s just set her up for her future as well.”
Also sharing the cash in the syndicate are husband and wife Ben and Holly Snookes, whose first child is due in just 11 days. Ben, 27, said: “We’ve got the baby coming any minute, so stock up on the baby stuff now and then, hopefully, holidays after.”
They say they can now also move from their one-bed flat into a more spacious family home.
The syndicate members have been conservative with spending so far, as they get over the shock of the win.
Kelly explained: “We’re all quite sensible. I think for a lot of us it still hasn’t quite settled yet. could be some splurges.”
The family celebrated their success yesterday by popping champagne bottles, while platters of green vegetables were also on show to remind them of how it all happened.
The giant cheque was made out to the “Merry Millions Syndicate”.
But there