JUNE 19, 1987

IT would be the equivalent of Richard Osman being dragged in front of a House of Commons select committee after allegations Pointless was rigged.

But that’s pretty much what happened when the Quiz Show Scandals rocked American broadcasters in the 1950s.

On November 2, 1959, Charles Van Doren was called to appear in front of a Congressional subcommittee tasked with investigating how several of the United States’ most popular TV quizzes had been “fixed”.

The producers of the TV quiz Twenty One thought Van Doren, was youthful, polite and telegenic – and just the man to boost their ratings.

Their reigning champion Herb Stempel wasn’t popular with the viewers and he was persuaded to “take a fall” for Van Doren.

His two-month winning streak did indeed see ratings rise, and Van Doren earn $129,000 – more than $1 million today.

When allegations of cheating by Stempel and several others emerged, Van Doren at first denied any wrongdoing, however he eventually went on to admit to Congress that he had in fact been given answers in advance.