The Ingrams deny the charges

Major Charles Ingram, 39, fought back tears as he described his "dreadful" ordeal of being accused of cheating.

He told his trial at London's Southwark Crown Court that on the show he had been focused on answering questions and was "in a cocoon".

Mr Ingram, his wife Diana, 38, and college lecturer Tecwen Whittock, 53, deny conspiracy to dishonestly procure the execution of a valuable security, namely the quiz show's �1m jackpot prize.

I have had my car vandalised... it has been absolutely horrendous. Charles Ingram Major's 'ordeal' - click here for more

The prosecution say Mr Whittock' coughs were timed to indicate to the Royal Engineers officer which of the options was right.

Suspicions led the programme makers to contact the police and withhold the �1m jackpot.

Mr Ingram said since the publicity surrounding the case his cat had been shot at, people had shouted out 'cheat' as they drove past his home and his car had been vandalised.

"I was not aware of any coughing while sitting in the hot seat from any part of the audience or contestants or otherwise," he told the court.

Upset

But he agreed Mr Whittock was sitting closest to him apart from host Chris Tarrant.

Asked by the prosecution if he could have heard someone coughing "10 feet behind him" if he had been listening out for it, he agreed he could have.

"My hearing is not perfect but it is certainly battle fit," he said.

Mr Ingram said he had not even known Mr Whittock at the time and only learned his wife had been in touch with him before the show once the cheating allegations came to light.

The court has heard the major speak of his joy at winning the million and his shock and upset at being accused of cheating.

'Competitive'

Mr Ingram, giving evidence on Thursday, said he took time to consider the quiz answers - including saying each of them out loud - even when he was "very confident".

Mr Ingram was asked by his counsel, Sonia Woodley QC, if he heard coughing during rehearsals.

He said contestant Steve Carroll, in seat one, was coughing so much that Chris Tarrant asked if he would be all right on the night of the show.

Mr Ingram was a "roll-over" contestant having failed to finish his run on the previous night.

Mr Whittock said the coughs were due to hay fever

"As the tension and stress increases and the money goes up and so on - I know because it happened to me - your doubts increase," he said.

Ms Woodley asked him about the �32,000 question - "Who had the hit album called Born To Do It in 2000?"

Mr Whittock was not coughing and Mr Ingram said he had "no idea" what the answer was.

He used his 50-50 lifeline and was left with A1 and Craig David.

When he said he was considering A1 there was a gasp from the audience that made him change his mind.

Prosecutor Nicholas Hilliard asked him about the million pound question 'A number one followed by 100 zeros is known by what name?'.

Mr Hilliard said: "The truth is you did not have a clue?" to which Mr Ingram replied: "Correct."

Earlier in the hearing Mr Ingram had said he had come to the answer by elimination.

The trial has been adjourned for the day.