Shock at TV verdict

Staff at the Welsh further education college where Who Wants to Be a Millionaire cheat Tecwen Whittock is head of business studies expressed shock at his conviction for attempting to defraud the TV show this week, writes Tony Tysome.

People who worked with Mr Whittock at Pontypridd College were "convinced that he was innocent", a lecturers' union representative said.

Natfhe branch secretary Bernard Owens said Mr Whittock, who was found guilty of using a series of coded coughs to help Major Charles Ingrams to scoop the £1 million jackpot, had been "very open" about the whole affair. "It seems very out of character," Mr Owens said.

The college declined to comment on the court verdict or what action it planned to take over Mr Whittock's job.