THE Northern Echo cannot have been the only place in the country rather subdued and despondent this week as we stand on the brink of we-don't-know-what.

So, it is a little relief that one of the nation's favourite television programmes should give us an entertaining and diverting controversy to chew over.

For a million pounds, was the coughing in the background of a Who Wants to be a Millionaire? show a) someone with a tickly throat; b) someone overcome by nerves; c) someone trying to cheat; d) a massive publicity stunt that has even managed to throw the impending attack on Afghanistan off the front pages.

Not even with 50:50 or phone a friend options can we discover the answer - only when the police have asked the audience will we know.

Yet two things do occur. Firstly, you gamble when you put yourself forward for a high-profile TV programme like Millionaire. You weigh up the plus side - one million pounds, loads of publicity - against the downside - embarrassment in front of millions, too much publicity. Then you make your choice.

Everyone knows this. The attraction of viewers to gameshows is not only the drama of a contestant winning the top prizes, but also the possibility of a contestant making a humiliating mistake. It's the same attraction as motor racing - viewers thrill to see the skill of the drivers, but enjoy a good pile-up even more. How everyone in the North-East sniggered at Peter Lee when he didn't know that Chester-le-Street was the home of Durham County Cricket Club (as he'd already won £500,000, he probably had the last laugh).

Major Charles Ingram chose to accept this gamble when he decided to appear on the programme. It is, therefore, a little rich of him to complain about the attendant publicity.

A second thought occurs. Such controversy only occurs because of the size of the prize. In the old days, there could be no allegations of cheating because the prizes were only a rubbish bin or a paltry Blankety Blank chequebook and pen - no one would seriously bother to cheat for either of those.

And that's why Celador, the programme maker, offered such a big prize. It knew that a million pounds would get everyone talking.

Now this cheat row episode is so notorious that whenever it is shown it will get massive ratings. Even if Maj Ingram gets to keep his £1m, it would appear that Celador will end up the really big winner.

And that is our final answer.