The actor once again proved his remarkable versatility
ITV's much-anticipated drama Quiz kicked off last night, depicting the events of the infamous "Coughing Major" scandal that rocked Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2001.
Matthew Mcfadyen and Sian Clifford star as Charles and Diana Ingram, the couple found guilty of cheating their way to the top prize on the game show, but it's Michael Sheen as presenter Chris Tarrant which has drawn the most attention.
Sheen has been praised for giving an uncanny impression of the host, even by Tarrant's very own son Toby, who works for Radio X.
Sheen appeared on The Graham Norton Show last week to promote Quiz, sporting longer hair and a bushy beard - making his physical transformation into Tarrant all the more remarkable.
The ITV drama recreated the exact set of 2001-era Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, giving Sheen the perfect backdrop for his performance.
Notably, the actor has a proven track record for portraying real people in factual dramas, having previously excelled as former Prime Minister Tony Blair (The Queen), journalist David Frost (Frost/Nixon) and football manager Brian Clough (The Damned United).
Sheen nailed Tarrant's distinctive voice, with some joking that he should be hosting the game show's current series (fronted by Jeremy Clarkson).
It would be safe to say that Sheen stole the show for many viewers, but his co-stars also made a big impression.
In particular, Sian Clifford was praised for her turn as Diana Ingram, having recently co-starred in the BBC's hit comedy series Fleabag.
Matthew Macfadyen's performance was also hailed, but it was his iconic attire that really got people talking...
Quiz continues tonight (Tuesday 14th April) at 9pm on ITV
David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.
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