ITC clears Millionaire quiz of rigging

A TV regulator has cleared ITV's Who Wants To Be Millionaire? of engineering its first top prize winner to beat BBC1 in the ratings after complaints from viewers.

A TV regulator has cleared ITV's Who Wants To Be Millionaire? of engineering its first top prize winner to beat BBC1 in the ratings after complaints from viewers.

The show beat the final edition of One Foot In The Grave - which had been expected to draw a bumper audience - when they went head-to-head in November.

But the Independent Television Commission has cleared the show of rigging following 11 complaints from viewers that it was a deliberate scheduling ploy.

Judith Keppel became the first millionaire on the hit show hosted by Chris Tarrant.

Celador, which produces the show, rejected the suggestions telling the ITC it took its impartiality seriously and would not put its integrity at risk.

And ITV broadcaster Carlton said a member of the audience, which had been sworn to secrecy, broke the story against its wishes by contacting the press and whipping up interest in the show.

The BBC has formally apologised to ITV after a Beeb source expressed concern over the coincidence that the win occurred on the same night as the last ever episode of its sitcom starring Richard Wilson.

The ITC decided there was no breach of its programme code.

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