James Graham's Quiz to be adapted for TV

James Graham’s play Quiz, about the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire cheating scandal, is being adapted for television.

Quiz opened at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017 before transferring to the West End, and is now being turned into a three-part drama for ITV and US network AMC.

James Graham’s Quiz review at Chichester Festival Theatre – ‘smart and compelling’

It tells the story of the genesis of the popular TV quiz show and the events that led up to Charles Ingram’s million-pound-winning appearance in 2001, which became known as the ‘coughing major’ scandal when he and his wife Diana were later accused of cheating.

The TV adaptation will also be written by Graham, and will star Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford as Charles and Diana Ingram and Michael Sheen as presenter Chris Tarrant. The cast also includes Mark Bonnar, Helen McCrory, Michael Jibson and Aisling Bea.

It will be directed by Stephen Frears and produced by Left Bank Pictures for ITV and AMC.

Graham, who is also an executive producer on the show, said: “I was gripped by this story more than 15 years ago, and I’m still gripped now. It’s a very English heist.

“Putting it on stage at Chichester and the West End was such a lot of fun, and with a new team we now get to re-imagine the while story afresh for television.”

Quiz is commissioned by ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill, who said: “I am delighted to be bringing James Graham’s wonderful play to screen on ITV. It’s testament to James’ brilliant scripts that Stephen Frears is directing, which together with Left Bank Pictures producing, promises to deliver a very special drama.”

Filming is currently underway in London.