Tarrant was unaware of 'strategic coughing' in quiz

Chris Tarrant, the presenter of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, did not hear the coughing that allegedly helped a contestant cheat his way to the ITV quiz show's top prize, he said yesterday.

When told after the recording that staff were suspicious of Major Charles Ingram, Mr Tarrant said: "Don't be stupid", Southwark Crown Court in London was told. "My reaction was that I could not believe it, I did not want to believe them," he told the jury. "You don't expect people to come on a show like that and cheat."

The show, recorded in September 2001, was not broadcast because of the suspicion that Major Ingram had cheated.

Major Ingram, 39, and his wife, Diana, 38, of Easterton, Wiltshire, are both charged with cheating to win the £1m prize. Also charged is Tecwen Whittock, 52, from Cardiff. All three deny the charges.

The Crown claims that Mr Whittock coughed 19 times at strategic points to guide Major Ingram to the right answers. The trial continues.