MICHAEL Sheen took to presenting Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? so much in ITV drama Quiz that he wants the job.
But the actor’s ambitions run the risk of upsetting existing host Jeremy Clarkson.
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The 51-year-old plays the game show’s original presenter Chris Tarrant in the three-parter, which launched on Easter Monday and finishes tomorrow night.
Sheen said: “To do it on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? for Quiz and getting to be the person who is so brilliant at doing it as well, I loved that.
“I’d like to take part as a contestant but I would also like to host it. Not as me, as Chris Tarrant.
“I’m the sort of person who, when you play board games with the family, I like to be the question-asker, the person in charge. I love that.”
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Quiz is based on the play about ‘Coughing Major’ Charles Ingram, played by Matthew Macfadyen, who cheated on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in 2001 to win the seven-figure jackpot.
He got help from his wife Diana (Sian Clifford) and college lecturer Tecwen Whittock, who were in the audience and would cough when he read out the correct answer.
All three were found guilty of deception in 2003.
Sheen, who has previously portrayed Tony Blair, Brian Clough and David Frost, was praised for his performance as Tarrant, now 73, who hosted the show until 2014.
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Son Toby Tarrant, 28, said: “Really enjoyed Quiz, looking forward to the rest of it.
“Michael, as expected, is brilliant as dad.
“To be fair, he’s so good he’d probably be convincing as my Norwegian auntie Tina.”
Bookmaker Ladbrokes has Sheen at 5-1 to take over from The Grand Tour’s Clarkson, 60, who has been in the presenter’s chair since 2018.
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Ingram, now 56, was spotted out shopping at a supermarket near his Wiltshire home today.
The former Army major, who has been declared bankrupt four times, was using a £2,000 Ford Fiesta.
Quiz was watched on Monday by more than 5.3million viewers, which was 400,000 more than BBC One’s The Nest.
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