When you are one already I ALWAYS enjoy watching the controversial 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire', but I think it farcical if a contestant is already a millionaire!

Granted, the programme is very exciting, and I am happy for the not too well-off contestants acquiring life-changing wins.

I am, however, annoyed when the likes of Judith Keppel, cousin to Camilla Parker-Bowles and a direct descendant of Earls, has been eligible to acquire the coveted 'million', which to her is just a 'top up', but an absolute dream to Mr and Mrs Average!

Anyone living in a £500,000 house must at least be a millionaire.

Thoughts came to my mind like 'Taking coals to Newcastle', 'Double standards', and my grandma's saying 'These that have, can have'.

Furthermore, those who have won large sums have been either pilots, chartered accountants, solicitors, and other professional people who are already rich. What chance has Mr and Mrs Average against people in a league who have gained much of their knowledge by travelling all over the world, and learning about haute cuisine first hand by dining in expensive exclusive restaurants!

Witness a Mr Lee who won £500,000 with a question about Japan, which he'd learned there first hand from Japanese friends. I'm sure he was a ship's captain, and he didn't flinch when he'd won.

Again, many contestants seem to come from rich counties such as Hampshire and Surrey for example. Many contestants like Ms Keppel can well afford to keep calling the 'hotline' maybe hundreds of times! What chance have Mr and Mrs Average?

I was surprised to learn that the show is pre-recorded the previous day, and the cheques forward dated as though the programme is live! A slot in the tabloid newspapers told of Ms Keppel's win. A fix was not ruled out, because, after all, we did have a 'sneak preview'!

I'm sure 'Millionaire' would be more popular if the contestants were not so well off, and would benefit appreciably from even moderate wins.

B Howarth

Alexandria Drive

Westhoughton