When television producer Paul Smith puts everything on the line to make ITV quiz show and overnight sensation `Who Wants to be a Millionaire?', one family's much-loved pub quiz hobby turns into outright obsession. As the family's attempts to win the ultimate prize fall short, all eyes turn to an unsuspecting Major Charles Ingram to take his turn in the coveted hot seat.

When seemingly hopeless contestant Charles Ingram returns for his second night in the hotseat, he is a brand new man with a brand new strategy. The audience on the edge of their seats, Charles dithers and about-turns up the question ladder while an increasingly suspicious production team launch an investigation that will lead them to an incriminating pattern of coughs in the studio audience.

Charged with stealing a million pounds and persecuted by the public and press, the Ingrams head to court. At first it seems the trial is a fait accompli, but as the case for the defence gets underway, the jury learn there is far more to the story than they know.