The first trailer for ITV's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? coughing scandal series Quiz has dropped, showcasing Michael Sheen in action as Chris Tarrant.

The Good Omens star plays the popular game show host in the three-part series, which dramatises the infamous 2001 scandal.

It saw Charles Ingram (Matthew Macfadyen) and wife Diana (Sian Clifford) accused of conspiring with accomplice Tecwen Whittock (Michael Jibson) to rig a round of the ITV competition show.

Michael Sheen as Chris Tarrant in Quiz
ITV

In the trailer, we see Sheen in action as Tarrant on the show's iconic set, as well as the scandal unfolding – including the infamous coughs when a correct answer was read out.

Sheen spoke previously to Digital Spy about transforming for the role, admitting it wasn't too hard given his propensity for playing real-life characters.

"If there's one thing I'm known for by most people," Sheen said, "it's for having played characters – whether it's David Frost or Tony Blair or Kenneth Williams or Brian Clough, so it's not something that is new to me.

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matthew macfadyen and sian clifford as charles and diana ingram in itv's quiz
ITV

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"So I wasn't that shocked!"

He added: "It's a real person and people are very familiar with him so that's a big part of what your preparation is.

"I've done it a few times so I have a way of working on it. It requires different preparation but not entirely. But part of it is playing a character that isn't a fictitious character."

Quiz begins on ITV in April.


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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.