His career began while at university at King's College, London, where he studied French and German, appearing in radio satire shows including Weekending on the cabaret circuit in London and Edinburgh.
He still speaks both languages and enjoys opera, combining his interests in 1999 when he translated Kurt Weil's Der Silbersee for Broomhill Opera
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? drama revived
Rory Bremner is to play Chris Tarrant in a revival of Quiz, the drama about the cheating scandal that engulfed Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
The show, by playwright James Graham, explores the real-life story of Charles Ingram, the ‘coughing Major’, who is said to have conned the TV show out of £1million in 2001.
It was first staged at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2017, before transferring to the West End – and was then made into a 2020 ITV mini-series in 202 starring Michael Sheen, Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford.
In the stage show, the audience are given keypads – as in the TV quiz – to vote on whether Ingram is guilty or not.
Bremner said: ‘I’m very excited about this; not just the challenge of playing Chris Tarrant in long form but bringing the scandal that really caught the public's imagination to a live audience every night.
‘I didn't have to phone-a-friend. It wasn't even 50/50. This was a role I had to take on, with A: a brilliant director; B: a terrific script; C: a different audience live each night; and D: a story that divides opinion to this day. Final answer? Ask the audience!’
In an interview with The Times today, Bremner said: ‘God help my wife, because for five months she’s going to be living with Chris Tarrant.’
But he confessed he was an acquaintance of the former Millionaire host, adding: ‘I enjoy his company. He’s kind of a larger-than-life character.’
Quiz will return to Chichester Festival Theatre from September 22 to 30, then embarking on a nine-week UK tour, winding up in Birmingham on December 2 - full details are on the production's website. It is directed by the Chichester venue’s artistic director Daniel Evans.
Published: 20 Jan 2023
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