British composer behind the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? theme music charged with arson

Composer, 49, behind the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? theme music is charged with arson after blaze at his £1m west London home

  • Composer Matthew Strachan is accused of setting fire to his west London home
  • Strachan appeared at magistrates court where he was given unconditional bail
  • Case was referred to the crown court where Strachan will appear next month 
  • The 49-year-old is most famous for the award-winning theme of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? but also worked on other programmes including Question Time 

The composer behind the famous Who Wants to be a Millionaire? theme music has been accused of setting fire to his own home.

Matthew Strachan, 49, the British composer behind the popular quiz show’s music, has appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court in London charged with one count of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

The composer is accused of setting fire to his own West London home, according to the Daily Star.

British composer Matthew Strachan, most famous for the Who Wants to be a Millionaire? theme tune, has been accused of setting fire to his own home in Twickenham, west London

Strachan has been granted unconditional bail to his home in Chudleigh Road, Twickenham

Strachan has been granted unconditional bail to his home in Chudleigh Road, Twickenham

Described as a ‘serious offence’ by prosecutors, the case was referred to the crown court and Strachan was granted unconditional bail to the same home in Twickenham. 

Strachan, of Chudleigh Road, Twickenham, will next appear at Kingston Crown Court on November 5 where he is expected to enter a plea.

The 49-year-old is an award-winning composer, most famous for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? but has also composed music for other programmes including Question Time.

In 2012, he was awarded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Hall of Fame prize after winning 10 consecutive awards for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 

Who Wants to be a Millionaire began in 1998 on ITV and ran until 2014 with host Chris Tarrant. The broadcaster relaunched the show in 2018 with new host Jeremy Clarkson (pictured)

Who Wants to be a Millionaire began in 1998 on ITV and ran until 2014 with host Chris Tarrant. The broadcaster relaunched the show in 2018 with new host Jeremy Clarkson (pictured)

The popular TV show, which began in 1998, was relaunched with new host Jeremy Clarkson in 2018 and hit headlines last month when contestant Donald Fear, from Telford, won the coveted £1 million prize.

Strachan’s iconic theme also appeared in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire directed by Danny Boyle.