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Charles Ingram Reveals The Truth Behind That Shocking Dog Scene In 'Quiz'

Lucy Devine

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Charles Ingram Reveals The Truth Behind That Shocking Dog Scene In 'Quiz'

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Over the last few evenings, we've been glued to ITV drama, Quiz - which has been telling the story of Major Charles Ingram's appearance on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2001 and how he managed to scoop £1 million.

And in last night's final episode, there was a heartbreaking moment where Charles could be seen cradling the family dog, Buffy, who had been shot.

The shocking scene sees Charles' wife Diana, and the couple's three children, arriving home after school to find a trail of blood in their home.

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Diana tells the children to go upstairs, before finding Charles sitting on the kitchen floor, cradling the dog and explaining he thought someone had "caught [Buffy] at the front of the house with a pellet gun or an air rifle".

Now, Charles has confirmed that this did happen, but it was actually his cat who had been shot.

Replying to a viewer on Twitter, who asked: "Did someone really kill your dog?" Charles responded: "Cat. She was shot by an air gun. Buffy did survive, after an operation. [Writer and executive producer] James Graham probably didn't know that she had survived."

Charles could be seen sitting on the floor cradling Buffy (Credit: ITV)
Charles could be seen sitting on the floor cradling Buffy (Credit: ITV)
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Speaking about the incident on the Final Answer podcast, James Graham said it was one of the most upsetting moments in Charles and Diana's story.

"I think in real life, their dog was actually kicked by some people as they took them for a walk. And then somebody shot another of the animals," he said.

"And you just think, as ever, with a question around proportionality compared to the crime itself, I think is what is actually one of the areas I'm not uncertain or ambiguous about.

"I think it's safe to say that the response and the level of scrutiny and the level of punishment that the Ingrams received across the board for this alleged crime was not proportionate to what they were accused of doing. And that was one of the most upsetting moments, I think."

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The programme follows how Charles managed to fool producers as well as host Chris, recreating the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire episode itself.

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Shortly after Charles' big win, ITV became suspicious over his behaviour during the episode and began investigating the army major for what became known as the 'coughing scandal'.

It turns out Charles had managed to scoop the top prize with help of his wife Diana and friend Tecwen Whittock, who were both sitting in the studio audience and coughing to indicate the correct answers.

When the trio, from Wiltshire, were caught and charged with fraud two years later, they were fined, but received two years suspended prison sentences (so they never actually went to jail).

Charles explained it was actually his cat that had tragically died (Credit: ITV)
Charles explained it was actually his cat that had tragically died (Credit: ITV)
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Charles has been tweeting about the ITV drama each evening, commenting on its accuracy and answering viewer questions.

But earlier this week, the former contestant launched into a rant against presenter Chris Tarrant. In a series of tweets, the so-called 'coughing major' called the TV quiz host "deluded" for accusing him of cheating when he scooped the £1million prize.

It seems he had a lot to say about Chris' reaction, after ITV started raising suspicions.

Originally, the host went on the record saying that he didn't hear any coughing during Charles Ingram's Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? appearance. But after being presented with the evidence, he asserted that Ingram was "guilty as sin".

In the Major's view, Chris is out to "protect his legacy" and should actually "have been called as a defence witness".

"We were good until he was told otherwise," tweeted Ingram. "Tarrant wants to protect his legacy, his team, and the integrity of the UK production."

He continued: "I get that, but there is the more important issue of justice, including all public that spent millions phoning and appeared. [sic] Who protects us?"

The couple were eventually handed a suspended sentence (Credit: ITV)
The couple were eventually handed a suspended sentence (Credit: ITV)

"Tarrant should have been a defence witness."

He continued: "I think he's proven he will do anything to protect his legacy, the famed UK production and his 'family' regardless of what they have done.

"It says much that he feels no responsibility toward the people who apply and appear on the show."

"Tarrant is not the person people think he is. TV does that.

"He suffers from delusions of grandeur and despite no proof I cheated he keeps harping on to protect his mates.

"I'm sad for him. p.s., I'm still calm."

The presenter's management have been contacted for comment.

Brits have been glued to the ITV drama for the last few evenings and if you're yet to watch it, you can catch up over on ITV Hub.

Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, Animals

Lucy Devine
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