National Lottery draw LIVE: £2m Lotto jackpot up for grabs TONIGHT; plus tickets & latest news
THE Lotto drw returns TONIGHT with players in with the chance of winning £2 million.
The draw takes place at 8pm, with a Thunderball draw also underway just minutes later at 8.15pm.
The latest EuroMillions draw also took place on Tuesday evening, where the winning numbers were: 17, 25, 26, 33 and 36, while the Lucky Stars were 1 and 8.
Read our Lottery live blog below for the latest updates and numbers…
- Joseph Gamp
Lottery draw history and prize breakdown
EuroMillions was launched on February 7, 2004, by lotteries in France, Spain and the UK – with the first draw being held in Paris six days later.
In October of that year, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland joined.
Draws are held every Tuesday and Friday evening, with them all taking place in Paris at 8.45pm local time – 7.45pm in the UK.
You will choose five main numbers and then two lucky stars (numbers), with prizes ranging from around £2.50 up to the jackpot.
The prize values vary depending on ticket sales and the number of winners in each prize tier.
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Biggest lotto winners in history
- £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history’s biggest lottery prize
- £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline
- £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin
- £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017
- £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018
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Lotto returns tonight with £2m jackpot
The National Lottery returns tonight, with a Lotto jackpot of £2m up for grabs.
The draw takes place at 8pm tonight.
And just minutes later, Thunderball also takes place at 8.15pm, offering a top prize of £500,000 for one lucky ticket holder.
- Joseph Gamp
Boob jobs for sisters
Sarah Cockings from Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear won a whopping £3million in April 2005 when she was just 21.
She claimed to “live a very normal life” despite her vast fortune, and after the money dropped in her account she treated her siblings Emma and Alex to matching boob jobs.
“Just after I won, I bought my two sisters boob jobs but now I've had one myself, because mine were wrecked by breastfeeding,” she told the Daily Mail in 2019.
Sarah, who said she “loved” her surgically enhanced chest, also went back to university so that her mum could have a “picture of me graduating”.
Eight years after winning the lottery she decided to quit her job as a social worker and pursue modelling opportunities, where she’s found ultimate happiness.
“Up until now there’s no bad part of being a millionaire – I’ve loved every minute,” Sarah added.
- Joseph Gamp
Lottery winner became a pig farmer
For many, winning the jackpot means mass celebrations and ultra-expensive cars – but not for Susan Hardman.
When the mum-of-one’s numbers came up in January 2010 she worked as a hairdresser in Eardisley, Hereford, and was “struggling financially”.
Instead of splashing out when the £1.2million win landed in her bank account, she traded in her scissors for overalls and became a pig farmer.
Susan claimed to be happier than ever knee-deep in mud and said bringing a piglet into the world brought her “more satisfaction” than winning the lottery.
In 2015, she told the Daily Mail: “I was perfectly groomed, my clothes and make-up were always carefully picked out – now I always smell of pigs.
“Ironically, these days I buy most of my clothes from second-hand charity shops… Friends think I’m crazy.”
Susan’s life is now a far cry from her previous struggles, when she was forced to “turn down the thermostat” because she “couldn’t afford the bills”.
Last year she told the Mirror: “When I won, I think I immediately turned the heating up and I realised I’d never be cold again.”
- Joseph Gamp
Scratchcard winner went STRAIGHT back to work
Winning £1m was sheer luck for Jamie Heavens, who purchased a Millionaire Riches Scratchcard after watching a customer in front of him do it.
After leaving the petrol station, he pulled into a layby to scratch it off and was gobsmacked when he won.
However, hardworking Jamie, from Bournemouth, had no intention of quitting his day job.
Jamie told the Mirror: “It was 7.30 in the morning and I still had a day’s shift ahead… I won a million pounds and earned another £100 for my shift.”
After that the roofer and his fiance Danielle spent £25,000 on a lavish wedding with “a band, a videographer and a massive marquee”.
He bought a business but feels rather happy about his new job, adding: “I still work but now I’m my own boss!”
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Winning couple buy dog a field of its OWN
Dogs are often described as “man’s best friend” but it seems lucky pooch Lucy may appreciate that more than most.
She was found “starving and terrified” by Faye and Richard Davies after being “abandoned on the mountainside” in Brecon Beacons, Wales, back in 2018.
Weeks later the couple won £1million on the EuroMillions and, after recognising Lucy was too scared to go out for walks, paid £20,000 for a private field.
Faye told the Mirror: “She was terrified of people, of other dogs and water, so dog walks were a nightmare.
“Then, weeks after our win, a half-acre field came up for sale just down the road [and] we bought it for Lucy.”
Since then she’s been “happy and carefree” while out on her “safe place for walkies” and has even learned to play with other dogs.
- Joseph Gamp
Splurging on dog biscuits
Tracy Field was a struggling single mum-of-three with three jobs before she won the National Lottery in 2008.
Her financial woes had taken a massive toll on her, and after being diagnosed with cancer a year earlier she became so ill her hair fell out.
After realising she had won £2.5million, Tracy felt “compelled to go out and buy something after years of scrimping”.
She told the Mirror: “I went to Tesco at midnight in my pyjamas and bought a box of Bonio dog biscuits because I couldn’t think of what else to buy.”
Following her modest purchase, Tracy bought a £430,000 three-bedroom house and helped her sons get onto the property ladder, too.
The mum was also able to get private medical treatment after finding more lumps, which she said "instantly put my mind at rest.”
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Renovating a public toilet
Retirees Dennis and Shirley Banfield appeared to have gone a little potty when plotting how to spend their £18million National Lottery win in 2018.
The couple from Winterbourne, Bristol, paid for new lavatories at a local community centre after discovering they needed replacing.
They were determined to give something back after visiting the venue for countless celebrations including wedding receptions, anniversaries and children’s parties.
In 2019, Denis told the Mirror: “When we read that it needed new toilets, we donated £20,000 for the work and cut the ribbon outside the Ladies and Gents ourselves at an official ceremony
“We joined a lunch at the centre… and a man got up to use the loo [and] said, 'I'm just off to use the Banfields' which really made our day!"
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What does the money go on?
From total ticket sales of £8,373.9 million in the year ending 31 March 2021:
- £1,887.5 million was raised for National Lottery projects
- £4,854.7 million was paid to players in prizes
- £1,004.8 million went to the Government in Lottery Duty
- £275.9 million was earned by retailers in commission
27 is the luckiest number
Number 27 has made more appearances than any other in 3,071 draws in the past ten years making it the best number to have in your row.
The number came up 399 times in the UK National Lottery, Thunderball, EuroMillions and Irish Lotto.
That is 141 more times than number 57, the unluckiest number, which was drawn just 258 times.
The second luckiest is 54, which appeared 387 times. It was followed by 29, 42, 52 and 58 in joint third on 381 times.
The next luckiest was number 20 with 378. Then came 23, with 372.
Didn't notice my millions
An Australian man unknowingly won the lottery a month ago and has finally come forward to claim his £2.4million prize.
The ticket holder collected his winnings on Thursday after striking lucky in the Set for Life jackpot that was drawn on October 9.
He will now be paid £11,000 a month for the next 20 years.
Because his entry was unregistered, Lotto officials weren’t able to find or contact the man about his winnings and had to wait until he came forward.
The lucky winner said he had his entry ticket tucked inside his wallet the entire time.
The art of number picking
Have you ever wondered the secrets to winning big in the lottery? Here are some of the top tips to maximise your chance of winning:
- Avoid computer picks. It lowers your odds of winning.
- On scratchcards, try buying 10 of one ticket instead of several different tickets.
- Mix up your numbers.
- Even it out – Don’t pick all odd or all even numbers.
- Split from the crowd, so don’t play patterns.
- Apparently, you should avoid anniversaries, birthday’s and dates.
- Avoid playing winning numbers that have been drawn before, because every combination has a chance of coming up once every half a million drawings.
Lotto fun facts:
- 6 Millionaires are made every week
- Most millionaires celebrate with a cup of tea
- The luckiest postcode is Birmingham with 119 millionaires
- The luckiest profession are builders
- There are 6 million winners a week
- £56 billion paid out in prizes
- Over £34 million goes to National Lottery Projects every week
So close and yet so far
One unlucky teenager lost out on a £178m Euromillions jackpot – because each of her numbers was just one digit away from the winning seven balls.
Tayla Octave, 19, could not believe it when she checked her lucky dip row against February’s mega draw and saw she had been so close to scooping the top prize – which you only have a one in 139,838,160 chance of winning.
Marketing apprentice Tayla’s row was 5, 13, 24, 45, 49, with Lucky Stars 6 and 11 and the winning numbers were 4, 12, 25, 46, 48, 7 and 12.
She told The Sun: “I’m just gutted. It’s a long shot to win the lottery anyway but to be so close is heart-breaking.
“At first I just saw I hadn’t won anything but then I went through and compared them side by side and that’s when I realised that every single number I had was just one away from the winning ones.”
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Rolling in it
For many, winning the jackpot means mass celebrations and ultra-expensive cars – but not for Susan Hardman.
When the mum-of-one’s numbers came up in January 2010 she worked as a hairdresser in Eardisley, Hereford, and was “struggling financially”.
Instead of splashing out when the £1.2million win landed in her bank account, she traded in her scissors for overalls and became a pig farmer.
Susan claimed to be happier than ever knee-deep in mud and said bringing a piglet into the world brought her “more satisfaction” than winning the lottery.
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Is there a maximum jackpot?
The maximum jackpot prize is capped at €200 million – before conversion – and can alter depending on which country the winner lives in and the value of their currency.
In the UK, the winner’s prize would be capped around £181.5million.
That’s an eye watering sum of money.
Earlier this month, a French ticket holder bagged an estimated £184m.
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Lucky break
A syndicate of 53 NHS workers won £118,044 on EuroMillions earlier this month.
They matched five numbers and one lucky star in the October 8 draw.
The syndicate members are mostly pharmacy staff at Morriston Hospital in Swansea and aged between 20 and 63.
They have been working flat out during the pandemic.
Pharmacy technician Kim Owen, 61, said: “It’s been a scary time for all of us so the win is extra special.”
Members of the syndicate, which is called the Pharmily Crew, will each receive £2,227. Most say they will spend their share on sunshine holidays.
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How much time do I have to make a claim?
All National Lottery and Euro Millions draw game prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the day of the draw (unless you follow the procedure which allows you to claim within seven days after the end of the claim period).
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Lucky be a (French) lady
The easiest lotto to win by prize is the France Lotto (or Loto as it’s known) which gives you a one in six chance of winning a prize.
- French Lotto = 1 in 6
- Spanish Lotto = 1 in 10
- UK Lotto = 1 in 9.3
- Austrian Lotto = 1 in 12
- EuroMillions = 1 in 13
- SA Powerball = 1 in 36
- SA Lotto = 1 in 93
When the fun stops, stop
Gaming is fun but for a few, it may become a problem.
If you’re worried about yourself, or someone you know, speak in confidence to the people at GamCare, available 24/7, on 0808 8020 133 or visit the GamCare website for assistance.
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Ill-gotten gains (continued)
The shocking snaps show the walls of the home are crumbling into scrubby wasteland.
Scores of moulding, mildew-infested cars sit in the weed-ridden grounds.
Piles of shingle, overgrown shrubs and dead leaves litter the ground.
At least 19 grimy cars pollute the grounds, as well as several greying caravans with dusty rooves and yellowed net curtains.
Haphazard wire fencing and a single bollard with a "Private, Keep Out" warning guard the home.
The Crown Prosecution service confirmed: "Confiscation proceedings are ongoing".
The ramshackle home has fallen into serious disrepair Credit: sbna_fairleys - [email protected]
Ill-gotten gains (continued)
The millions were doled out to the lowlife, despite his ticket having a faulty barcode, and Putnam asked for no publicity.
It was only when he tried to buy his council house with £83,000 in cash that his "winnings" came to light.
With the windfall, the fraudster is said to have purchased the £466,000 Hertfordshire home as well as another riverside property for £600,000 a few miles away.
He also splurged out on sports cars and lived a flashy lifestyle, locals said at the time.
He planned to turn the Kings Langley house, which is opposite a train station and just minutes from the M25, into a 30-bedroom motorway-side motel – but his plans were rejected by the local council.
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Ill-gotten gains
A convicted rapist who is still in jail for scamming millions with a fake Lotto ticket ten years ago still owns a posh four-bedroom house he allegedly bought with the tainted dosh.
The home in commuter haven Kings Langley, Herts, just minutes from the M25 has fallen into serious disrepair.
Docs show it is still owned by convicted rapist and fraudster Edward Putnam who is currently serving nine years for his despicable part in the biggest scam to ever hit the National Lottery.
He was jailed for seven years in 1993 for raping a terrified pregnant 17-year-old girl.
Putnam, now 56, "scooped" £2.5 million on the National Lottery in 2009 after conspiring with a Camelot employee to craft a fake ticket.
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Lighting strikes twice
Derek and Dawn Ladner, from Redruth, Cornwall, were thrilled when the same six numbers they used every week finally came up in the midweek lottery draw.
They initially claimed £479,142 from the £2,395,710 jackpot due to bagging the top prize with five others.
However, a week later Derek, then 57, was in for quite the shock when he found a second lottery ticket in his pocket.
It was from that same winning draw and thanks to his forgetfulness – when he bet twice with the same lucky numbers – their winnings increased to £958,284.
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