‘Millionaire’ cheats set to make a mint

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? cheats Major Charles Ingram and his wife, Diana, could be poised to net more than £2 million in media deals.

Worldwide interest in their story is set to be so high that the couple will end up making twice the amount they would have won if their scam had been successful, according to reports.

According to speculation, foreign TV companies and publishers are queuing to sign them up to gain access to their version of the event which has gripped the British nation so far.

The Daily Express paper also says the maker of a cough sweet is also keen to enter into an endorsement deal after the major used coughing signals to guide him to the correct answers in the show.

Wiltshire Army Major Charles Ingram, his wife Diana and fellow conspirator Tecwen Whittock were found guilty earlier this month by a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court of hatching a plan to use a system of coded coughs to win the million pound top prize.

Mr Ingram, 39, has said he was unlikely to appeal against his conviction, which he described as "absolutely awful".

His wife, Diana, said in a BBC interview: "We're keen to clear our names and reputations, it's under review but probably unlikely."

On Monday ITV aired a documentary about the trio, including unseen footage of Ingram’s appearance. It attracted over 15 million viewers, even higher than the controversial-filled documentary about Michael Jackson, which racked up over 14 million.

Ingram claims the show was "wholly and utterly one-sided" but its makers deny the claim.

It has since emerged the story is to be made into a movie by Who Wants To be A Millionaire? programme-maker Celador.

(AMcE)