Millionaire Quiz Show Winner Is Thief & Forger; Now he's set to lose pounds 64,000 prize.
THE winner of top TV quiz Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is set to lose his fortune - because he is a crook.Millions saw 51-year-old Neil Muir land a pounds 64,000 prize this week. But under the programme's rules he is BANNED from entering.
Muir has convictions for theft, deception and forgery. And Rule 6 says: "You must... have no criminal convictions (subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974)." London TV company Celador launched an investigation yesterday.
A spokesman said: "We have not been able to contact Mr Muir yet but are looking into the matter."
It was revealed that builder Muir owes thousands of pounds to angry creditors, who were last night hoping for a payout from his winnings.
As he unsuccessfully chased the show's pounds 1million top prize - watched by a record 17 million viewers - Muir told presenter Chris Tarrant his dream was to buy a tiny piece of paradise in Sierra Leone.
"He'll need that deserted island," stormed one creditor. "It'll give him somewhere to hide from all the people after him.
"It would be great if he settled all his IOUs. But I'm not holding my breath."
Muir, once a top amateur golfer, took part in the ITV peak-time show under his new name - in his home town of Wallasey, Merseyside, he is better known as Moir.
The former bank worker has had a 20-year career in the property and building business.
He runs a string of companies across Merseyside and Cheshire even though two of his firms have been dissolved in the past 10 years.
Just 18 months ago he was sentenced to 200 hours of community service for theft and deception.
And in 1989 he received a suspended sentence for theft and forgery.
Estate agent Ray Digman, who once shared premises with Muir, called him "a rip-off merchant".
He called police after being swindled out of more than pounds 30,000.
Mr Digman said: "He was arrested and pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges."
Property manager Mike Snelson, who claims Muir owes him a small fortune because of shoddy workmanship at his house, described him as "a bad lot - he left me many thousands out of pocket".
Mike, from Heswall, added: "I was so shocked when I saw him on TV. It was the first time in nearly three years, but I knew him immediately.
"The phones have been very hot here ever since."
Another creditor, who declined to be named, claimed the pounds 64,000 windfall was unlikely to cover all Muir's debts.
He said: "He's left debt wherever he's gone."
The Celador spokesman refused to say whether Muir, who was unavailable for comment, would still receive his winnings.
HOW HE WON
Here are the final questions Neil Muir was asked on his way to winning pounds 64,000
For pounds 16,000
Q: What does a Wainwright make? A: Wagons, B: Shoes, C: Boats, D: Rope. He asks studio to vote and loses a life. They vote: A: 37 per cent, B: one per cent, C: 20 per cent, D: 42 per cent. He is still unsure and so uses a second life - asking for a 50/50 choice. The computer loses two answers leaving him to pick either: A: Wagons B: Shoes. He said: "Wagons."
For pounds 32,000
Q: Which is another word for water divining? A: Dowsing, B: Panning, C: Prospecting, D: Tapping. Muir correctly says dowsing.
For pounds 64,000
Q: What is the principal use of "Paraquat?" A: Fuel, B: Adhesive, C: Dye, D: Weed killer.
Muir says: "I think it is weed killer."
He's right.
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| Author: | Disley, Jan |
|---|---|
| Publication: | The Mirror (London, England) |
| Date: | Jan 8, 1999 |
| Words: | 603 |
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