Jeremy Clarkson stops Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to call out coughing audience member

'You're supposed to cough after the question's been asked': Jeremy Clarkson jokingly stops Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to call out audience member in a nod to Charles Ingram's cheating scandal

By Jessica Green For Mailonline

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Jeremy Clarkson brought Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to a halt to call out a member of the audience for coughing during last night's show.

The episode, which first aired in 2019, saw the presenter prepare to ask contestant Lynne Greenwood, from Oldham, her £16,000 question, only to be interrupted by one of the spectators.

An audience member with a tickle in their throat started coughing before Jeremy could finish speaking, causing the host to stop and take aim at them.

Referencing Charles Ingram's cheating scandal, the presenter quipped: 'You're supposed to cough after the questions are being asked', causing the audience to erupt into laughter.

Army major Ingram sensationally cheated his way into winning £1million on the popular British quiz show in 2001 with the help of another contestant and his wife Diana, who coughed when the correct multiple-choice answers were read out.

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Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) brought Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to a halt to call out a member of the audience for coughing during last night's show

Lynne, a former sixth form teacher of 30 years, enjoyed a successful start to the show as she stormed her way to the £8,000 mark.

She was about to tackle the £16,000 round, with Jeremy starting to say: 'Marvellous, this is the next question then...' when he was cut off by a member of the audience clearing their throat.

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Upon hearing the coughing, Jeremy said: 'I can hear people coughing,' before looking around for the culprit.

He then joked: 'You're supposed to cough after the questions are being asked, in such a way that Lynne can use it…not just cough constantly before I've asked the question.'

The episode, which first aired in 2019, saw the presenter prepare to ask contestant Lynne Greenwood (pictured left), from Oldham, her £16,000 question, only to be interrupted by one of the spectators

An audience member with a tickle in their throat started coughing before Jeremy (pictured) could finish speaking, causing the host to stop and take aim at them

The presenter, 61, was referencing the coughing scandal in which Charles Ingram was convicted, alongside his wife Diana, of cheating his way into winning £1million on the quiz show in 2003.

Both were given an 18 month prison sentence suspended for two years and fined £15,000 apiece.

The war veteran became known as the 'Coughing Major' when he sensationally cheated his way to the jackpot in 2001 with the help of another contestant and his wife, who coughed when the correct multiple-choice answers were read out.

Lynne (pictured), a former sixth form teacher of 30 years, enjoyed a successful start to the show as she stormed her way to the £8,000 mark

But the winning cheque was taken off him before it was cashed and he was subsequently convicted - along with his wife - of deception.

Ingram later persuaded magistrates to cut his fine to £5,000, while his wife had her fine quashed on appeal, but he was forced to resign his commission by the Army Board.

Meanwhile, after making his joke, Jeremy then sarcastically asked the audience member: 'Are you better?' before adding: 'I don't care.'

Viewers at home were enjoying the presenter's comments, with one writing on Twitter: '@JeremyClarkson's coughing jokes have just made my night #whowantstobeamillionaire.'

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