How 1% Club 'cheat' row is latest in long line of game show outrages (2024)

Contestants flock to game shows with the hope they can give them a better life - with high jackpots offering an easy opportunity to land some much-needed cash.

But for some the risk they might fail to score the winning prize is too much - and they seek to secure their hopes through nefarious means.

From the now-infamous coughing major to this week's 1% club contestant, who has been accused of tugging at his ear to hint at the right answer to his wife, the public have ruthlessly weeded out suspicious characters on the TV screen.

And sometimes events around those in the show take over from the jackpot-scooping adrenaline, with a darts-playing murderer and ruthless tactics all hogging the limelight on some of Britain's biggest shows.

Here, MailOnline brings you some of Britain's biggest quiz-show scandals that played out before the nation's eyes.

Viewers spot 1% Club contestant making 'suspicious gesture'

Last night, a contestant on Lee Mack's The 1% Club was accused of 'cheating' after viewers spotted he made a suspicious gesture to reveal the answer.

Jason Duckett, 36, who appeared on the ITV quiz show with his wife Rowena, was forced to hit back at claims that he cheated following fan uproar.

It came after viewers spotted Jason rubbing his earlobes to apparently signal to his wife the answer - which was indeed 'ear' and 'hear'.

Some claimed the move was a 'bit naughty', while others outrightly called it 'cheating'.

But after claims triggered a probe into the deception, the show confirmed Jason and Rowena were actually eliminated at the time he touched his ear.

The show tests 100 members of the public's intelligence, common sense and logic with questions that ascend in order of difficulty according to what proportion of the wider public can answer them - 90 per cent, 80 per cent, down to one per cent.

But Jason hit back, telling The Sun: 'I almost admire the creativity of someone to come up with that because I hadn't thought of that.

'There was nothing to gain for either of us. We were both out. Anything I was doing it was to just sort of calm myself.

'If you spin it, you could say my arms are folded. Was the answer harm and arm?'

A 1% Club spokesman said: 'Any game show worth its salt attracts conspiracy theories. But happily, initial inquiries quickly established that there were no grounds for suspicion.'

The coughing major scoops £1m on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

When it comes to quiz show cheats, none are more notorious than the 'coughing major' Charles Ingram.

The former army major, then aged 38, amazed audiences in 2001 when he scooped the top prize on the ITV primetime show while answering erratically to host Chris Tarrant's questions.

But while Tarrant does hand over a cheque to winners on-screen, the money was withheld by production company Celador after concerns were raised over the possibility he had cheated.

It later emerged that accomplice Tecwen Whittock, who was a future contestant, had coughed to indicate correct answers throughout the show.

The former army major was handed a 20-month suspended prison sentence in a crown court trial in 2003. He also became known as the 'coughing major' and was forced to resign from his commission.

Whittock and Ingram's wife, Diana were both given 18-month suspended sentences for their part in the scam.

But Ingram's bad luck didn't improve following his conviction. In 2010, he lost three toes on his left foot to his lawnmower.

He and his wife now live a quiet life in an annex to a 18th century farmhouse owned by the Duke of Somerset.

Neighbours have now said that Ingram, 60, always 'seems busy' but they have noidea of what he does for a living.

A documentary on the cheating scandal was released in January 2021 which Ingram and his wife slated - vowing that 'the truth will come out'.

The documentary by Stellify Media looked at the infamous episode – which was never screened – as well as former host Chris Tarrant. It was the final episode of a series of six looking at past winners and stories.

But it attracted the ire of Ingram, who declared: 'This was disappointing. Same old orchestrated content.

'Expected more from Stellify Media. It's hard proving these people wrong and in the face of their relentless BS but we will and the truth will out.

'Those who deceived then profited must be held to account. Truth matters folks.'

He added: 'It's bizarre that in England the 'victim' can produce, control and influence all evidence.

'Telling too they consider it necessary to keep issuing public declarations of 'GUILTY'. I was informed this show was to be about MY gameplay. That was another whopper.'

The documentary was screened almost a year after a drama of the affair - called Quiz - was broadcast by ITV. That programme was favourably received by Ingram.

Multiple murderer breaks cover to play darts on Bullseye

John Cooperearned his nickname 'The Bullseye Killer' after appearing on the popular ITV dart-based quiz show hosted by Jim Bowen - four years after he murdered a brother and sister and weeks before he struck again.

The Pembrokeshire killings shocked the nation and remained a cold case until 2011, when John Cooper was eventually convicted of murdering reclusive brother and sister Richard and Helen Thomas, and violently executing husband and wife holidaymakers Peter and Gwenda Dixon.

Despite being suspected of the murders evil Cooper, who was known to police as a prolific burglar, spent years at large due to a lack of evidence linking him to the crimes.

A diagnosed psychopath, Cooper - who was married to late wife Patricia and had two children - was a prolific thief before he turned killer.

Richard and Helen Thomas were found murdered at their home, Scoveston Manor, near Milford Haven, in December 1985. They had been killed in an 'execution style', with both suffering shotgun wounds.

Police speculated that there may have been an altercation between the two but soon decided a third party was involved. Cooper sprinkled paraffin around the house and set it alight.

It was speculated that Cooper, a local in the area, was jealous of the millionaire farmers and targeted them at the secluded stately home.

He was known to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coast - even mentioning it on Bullseye - where he intercepted the walk of his second set of victims.

Cooper shot Peter and Gwenda Dixon in the face with a sawn-off shotgun as they enjoyed a coastal walk on the final day of their Welsh summer holiday on the Pembrokeshire coast, in June 1989.

He hid their bodies in nearby bushes. Cooper also stole money from them, using their bank cards to withdraw £300.

Using advanced developments in DNA and scientific evidence detectives were able to link the gun used in a robbery he was convicted of to the murder weapon in the Dixon's case.

Several items belonging to both sets of victims were also found in his possession.

Although Cooper denies his guilt, he was arrested and convicted of two double murders and jailed for life in May 2011 for the two double murders.

After an eight-week trial the serial killer was also convicted of separate offences of rape, sexual assault, and attempted robbery - he will never be released.

He was profiled in the award-winning TV drama The Pembrokeshire Murders which told how he carried out four cold-blooded murders.

In 2022 Dyfed Powys Police also reopened an investigation into the mystery deaths of a brother and sister 46 years ago after it was linked to the killer. The review is still ongoing.

Griff and Martha Thomas were found dead at their isolated farmhouse just 24 miles from Cooper's home in rural Wales.

Richard and Helen Thomas house 24 miles away was burned down in a carbon copy of what happened to churchgoers Griff and Martha, known as Patti, nine years earlier.

Benefits cheat fails to declare £95,000 Deal or No Deal winnings

Mother-of-two Caroline Banana said she was planning to use her winnings to buy her own home, allow her husband to finish his degree and help her African family after she bagged £95,000 on Deal or No Deal in 2011.

After her win, the mother of two, from Stoke-on-Trent, hugged host Noel Edmonds and posed for pictures with him and her husband Michael, 48.

But just two years later she was hauled to court after failing to declare her winnings while claiming housing and council tax benefits alongside income support.

Banana, from Stoke-on-Trent, admitted that she had wrongly received more than £6,100, and was ordered to carry out 215 hours of unpaid work after admitting benefit fraud.

She was also found to have falsely claimed benefits while working at a chemists, hospital and doctors' surgery in 2011 and 2012.

And she also admitted to falsely claiming free school meal allowances.

District Judge David Taylor slammed Banana when sentencing her, saying she had brought the media attention on herself - adding that 'any honest person' would have reported their game show winnings, the BBC reported.

He continued that he believed her behaviour amounted to 'a deliberate cover up'.

Golden Balls contestant commits 'biggest betrayal in TV history'

It remains one of the most shocking moments in TV history - when a Golden Balls player was left £100,000 out of pocket when his fellow contestant decided to 'steal' the bumper prize.

Stephen Bushnall was deceived by Sarah as he wanted to split the £100,000 between the two, with £50,000 each - before looking up to see that she had taken his fortune away from him.

Pursing her lips as she looked back at him, she was quickly rushed off stage as members of the audience screamed they hoped she would 'die in hell'.

And Stephen collapsed onto the table with his head in his hands - having promised her the pair would be 'going home with £50,000 each' if she shared with him.

The show aired between 2007 and 2009 and was presented by comedian Jasper Carrott.

It saw contestants collect cash and bluff their way to the last round. The final two then choose to share or steal the remaining money.

It both shared it was split but if one stole while the other shared - like Stephen and Sarah - then that player keeps all the money for themselves. If they both stole, they left empty-handed.

Business development manager Stephen, of Hartlepool, County Durham, last year revealed he is now in thousands of pounds of debt - but would still choose to share the cash if he had the chance.

He told MailOnline: '£50,000 at the time would have changed my life. I was in a lot of debt then and I still am now.

'I was absolutely devastated when it happened. I was in a state of pure shock and broke down in tears.

'It would have been amazing. It would have sorted out a lot of problems and I played the game fairly.

'And right now I am £20,000 in debt through owed money and credit card bills. The cost of living crisis has been very tough.

'But, if I had my chance again, I would still pick to share the money. That is the sort of person I am and always will be.'

Former bingo caller loses retirement winnings to Bitcoin scam

Former bingo caller Graeme Garioch was left elated after scooping £101,000 on Deal or No Deal in 2007, beating the banker on the Channel 4 show.

But more than a decade later he found himself being scammed out of his retirement nest-egg after clicking on a Facebook advert about investing in cryptocurrency.

In 2018, as he looked to finally give up his work as a railway worker, Graeme was looking to invest some of his winnings.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: 'You cry inside. I was planning to buy a house but now I'm renting a flat.'

After clicking on an advert for OMC Markets Graeme received a call from a man who claimed to be a Londoner named Daniel Hardy - but was actually a scammer in Bulgaria.

He went on to deposit £29,000 into a Bitcoin 'wallet' he had been persuaded to allow the scammers to access - before paying a further £6,000 to avoid 'fees' when he saw his money was showing that he had made £30,000 profit.

But when he tried to withdraw the money he was left heartbroken when his funds suddenly disappeared - losing a total of nearly £30,000.

Former criminal scoops first £1m jackpot in Red or Black?

Nathan Hageman became a millionaire in 2011 after winning the ITV show - which was fronted by Ant and Dec.

But the show was soon mired in controversy when it was revealed that in 2006, just five years prior to winning the show, Hageman was jailed for five years for attacking ex-partner Amy Edwards.

Eight million people watched Hageman, who served two-and-a-half years of his five-year sentence for the attack on Ms Edwards, become the first winner of Simon Cowell's game show by correctly predicting red on the spin of a giant roulette wheel.

Shortly after his win he revealed how he had already blown £65,000 of his fortune on cars including a supercharged Range Rover and a BMW, a 10-day all-inclusive holiday in Cuba and an Armani watch.

Charity campaigners and victim support groups reacted to the revelations by demanding that Hageman be stripped of his £1million haul.

But ITV bosses decided Nathan Hageman could not be denied his winnings because producers had let him on the show without proper background checks.

In the wake of his win, his former fiancée Jane Makepeace revealed how he threw her out of his penthouse, handing her just £60 for her cab fare.

And in 2014, Hageman was jailed againafter bombarding a woman with abusive messages at the rate of one text every seven minutes - with a total of more than 400 threatening text messages within just 48 hours.

Then 34, the former bricklayer was jailed at Reading Magistrates' Court for four months after the woman, who is in her 30s, contacted police to report the harassment.

ITV's Red or Black was the brainchild of Simon Cowell and was hosted by popular duo Ant and Dec.

Participants had to choose red or black on the spin of a roulette wheel, with those who chose incorrectly being eliminated from the show.

It was the most expensive game show in television history, with a £15 million budget, and aired for a year between September 2011 and 2012 before being axed.

Bankrupt plasterer splashes winnings... until viewer dobbed him in

Plasterer Andy Barker thought it was the luckiest day of his life when he scooped £35,000 on Channel 4 quiz show Deal Or No Deal.But it was a windfall that would land the 43-year-old in prison.

Amid the celebrations, Barker had forgotten one important point. He was declared bankrupt in November 2011, owing creditors £61,438, and was obliged by law to declare his winnings.

But instead of informing the Official Receiver, he put the cash in his NatWest account and then spent the lot within three months. The winnings went on plane tickets, jewellery and hotels.

Barker's triumph on the popular Noel Edmonds show was brought to an end after an eagle-eyed viewer notified the authorities.The tip-off sparked an investigation by the Insolvency Service and prosecution by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

At Warwick Crown Court in 2013, Barker, from Tamworth in Staffordshire, lost an appeal against the 13-week prison sentence imposed by magistrates for his failure to declare all the assets in his estate.

Tim Pole, barrister for the quiz show champ, told the court: 'What should have been a joyful moment has become a nightmare for him.

'For a man who has never been in trouble before and has worked hard all his life to suddenly make such a decision and find himself facing a custodial sentence, one can only imagine the impact it's had on him.'

Barker had admitted the offence at Nuneaton Court in April and also pleaded guilty to removing the money from his account contrary to the Insolvency Act.

As well as jail, magistrates ordered him to pay £3,418 costs, but immediately granted him bail until the appeal was heard.

Divorced Barker had hoped to start a new career as a teacher, but that hope has been scuppered by the conviction.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones told him: 'You were a man of good character until this and there is to be no stigma or sense that because you were a bankrupt it makes it worse.

'A lot of decent people end up being bankrupt. But this was a flagrant breach of your duty to the Official Receiver, and you spent the money quickly.'

'Poundland PopMaster' contestant's suspicious four-second pauses

Radio 2's 'Poundland' replacement for Ken Bruce's much-loved Popmaster quickly found itself in the middle of a 'cheat' row – just days after launching in 2023.

Furious listeners have accused contestant 'Sheila' of secretly using her phone to help her answer questions while appearing on Ten To The Top hosted by Gary Davies.

The new music quiz was launched as a replacement for Popmaster following the departure of Bruce, who left the radio station after more than three decades, moving over to rival Greatest Hits Radio.

Sheila, from Pinner in north-west London, managed to become the first person in the show's history to score a perfect score of 65 and said: 'It's too good to be true – all the questions and groups that I know, the questions came up.'

But those tuning into the morning quiz branded the digital project manager an 'obvious and blatant' cheat because of her four-second pause before correctly answering questions.

One tweeted: 'Obvious, blatant and unconvincing cheating on #Radio2's #10totheTop. I wouldn't want Sheila on my pub-quiz team! What a shame.'

While another quipped: 'What a pity to hear such blatant cheating on 10 to the Top. I don't know how you stop it but it certainly spoils it for the listener. Sheila was no Popmaster.'

'There is no doubt at all that Sheila was cheating or she was a stooge given the answers in advance. Like she knew who the Psychedelic Furs were! It's an awful replacement for PopMaster,' added another user.

The BBC insisted Sheila won the show fairly, with a spokesman telling The Sun: 'Prior to going on air, all Ten To The Top contestants are asked to participate alone with no assistance, books or devices, and we're confident that all players just use their music-filled brains.'

The contest sees two competitors going head-to-head to answer ten music questions. Winners can bag themselves a smart speaker.

But the show has been rubbished by listeners for being a carbon copy of Bruce's beloved Popmaster.

Richard Osman claims cheating is 'non-stop' on Celebrity Pointless

Richard Osman sparked disbelief after he revealed blatant cheating is 'non-stop' on the celebrity editions of BBC quiz show Pointless.

The former co-host, 53 - who presented the show alongside Alexander Armstrong - said that contestants are constantly whispering answers to their partners after being told not to confer.

But he added that the stars very rarely get away with their nefarious schemes - because their microphones pick it up.

'Oh, God. It's non-stop, most of the time,' he toldRichard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre podcast.

'Xander says, 'Oh, sorry - I did say no conferring'. And she just went, 'We're not conferring. We're just discussing the answer'.'

Richard went on to explain just how brazen the stars can be - as they blatently confer and come up with better answers.

He continued: ''I remember someone – we had a golf question. I can't remember who it was.

'Someone who had said, 'I know nothing at all about golf. I know nothing about golf'. So you're like: 'OK, well we're going to need something'

'And she says, 'Oh I've just thought of someone: Phil Nickleson'.'