Millionaire major unlikely to appeal

Convicted fraudsters Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana have admitted they are unlikely to appeal against their conviction for cheating on hit TV quiz show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

In an interview to be broadcast later today on BBC News 24, Major Ingram described the jury's decision to convict him, his wife and fellow conspirator Tecwen Whittock as "absolutely awful," but indicated that he probably wouldn't appeal.

"Each of the defendants are separate on this, but I'm unlikely to appeal from my point of view. Everything came up within the case."

Ms Ingram added that although the couple were anxious to "clear our names and reputations" and a legal appeal was "under review", it was "probably unlikely" they would press ahead with a legal challenge to the convictions.

All three defendants were found guilty of conspiring to cheat their way to the £1m prize earlier this month by using a series of 19 strategic coughs to indicate the correct answer.

Major Ingram and his wife were each sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and each fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £10,000 costs.

Mr Whittock was sentenced to 12 months, also suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.

Asked how he felt to be convicted for fraud, Major Ingram told BBC News 24's Hardtalk programme: "This feels absolutely awful. None of us cheated. There was no planning to cheat, no attempt to cheat, no scam. The verdict was perverse."

Meanwhile, Ms Ingram called the Tonight special: on the case "absolutely disgusting. It didn't represent what happened in the studio."

She added: "It would have been far fairer and more honourable to have shown what Charles would have really heard."

Major Ingram also reiterated claims made yesterday about the show.

"To call it an opportunity for the public to decide is disgraceful. It was wholly and utterly one-sided and far away from what actually happened."

But the programme's editor, James Goldston, said: "The programme was not unfairly or selectively edited in any way. We are sure viewers will have made up their own minds."