JOHN Lewis has gone back to basics with its Christmas advert this year with a magical tale about finding the perfect gift for a loved one. 

The two minute ad is called The Gifting Hour and follows a woman’s last-minute dash to find a gift for her sister.  

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After 17 years, it’s the first time that one of John Lewis’ 34 shops has featured in the advert. 

The mini-film was shot in John Lewis’ flagship store on Oxford Street during an overnight shoot back in October.

The department store had a multi-million pound makeover earlier this year after the retailer invested £6.5million. 

The advert, created by Saatchi & Saatchi, follows the woman, Sally, rushing into a John Lewis store looking for a last minute gift. 

The beginning is reminiscent of a Christmas film but Sally quickly enters a fantastical world, where she journeys through childhood memories looking for clues to help her pick the best present. 

She sees her sister as a child at Christmas, fighting with her as a teenager and as a pregnant mum-to-be. 

The scenes represent the thought process that goes through your head when you’re thinking about buying a gift at Christmas. 

She returns back to reality once she has found the gift, which is ready and wrapped.

Then, she heads outside and has a special moment with her sister. 

It ends with the strapline: “The secret to finding the perfect gift? Knowing where to look”. 

John Lewis intentionally does not reveal what the gift is, as it wanted to make the advert about the sentiment of giving.

The soundtrack is also a little different this year.
John Lewis is famous for using covers of popular songs for its advert – but this year it’s Sonnet by The Verve. 

It’s one of the nods to the 90s, which is a major theme this year. 

The retailer is also launching a search for a coverstar on TikTok, and legendary lead singer of the band Richard Ashcroft will help pick the new star.

The winner will record and release their own track with BMG and a version of the advert with their rendition will be played on TV on Christmas Day. 

They will also win a £3,000 shopping spree and tickets to a Richard Ashcroft headline show in 2025. 

Proceeds from the single will be donated to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme, which helps care-experienced people. 

It also doesn’t have an official merchandise range from the advert, which is a huge change from previous years. 

The John Lewis Christmas ad is widely considered the biggest advertising event of the year – and signals that the run up to the festive season has begun. 

In previous years it has spent up to £7million on making and promoting the advert. This year it says it spent a similar amount – but certainly not more.

Charlotte Lock, customer director for John Lewis, said: “The secret to finding the perfect gift is knowing where to look. 

“Our ad heroes the thoughtful gift-giver and celebrates ‘the gifting hour’, the moment when you go a little deeper in your heart and in our stores to find something really special and meaningful for the ones you love. 

“Our shops are the beating heart of our brand and our customers love the ritual of Christmas shopping there – so we wanted to give the store a starring role in our ad for the first time.”

This year, the advert is the final instalment of a three-part series, to relaunch the chain’s Never Knowingly Undersold pledge.  

It will air first on John Lewis’ social media platforms at 8am tomorrow, but MyJohnLewis members can watch it from 8am on the John Lewis website. 

It will be broadcast on TV during the ad break for Coronation Street on ITV at  8.45pm on Friday November 15. 

We have rounded up all of the John Lewis adverts throughout the years. 

The employee-owned business has already hailed a strong start to Christmas trading, announcing last month that sales from its Christmas shop were up 18% year on year.

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HOMEBASE collapsed into administration yesterday — but 1,600 staff will be saved by the “Del Boy” billionaire behind The Range.

Plymouth-based tycoon Chris Dawson yesterday confirmed a deal to take over the Homebase brand name, rights, and 70 of its stores.

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It is expected the stores will be rebranded to The Range, but Homebase will continue as an online brand and will be used on some of The Range’s DIY products.

It comes just a year after The Range snapped up fallen Wilko and re-opened a number of its shops.

Around 2,000 Homebase staff are still at risk, but administrator Teneo said there would be no immediate redundancies and stores would still trade.

Buyers are being sought for Homebase’s remaining 49 stores, after Sainsbury’s recently snapped up 11 of its outlets.

Homebase’s collapse comes after going through a string of different owners.

Argos sold it for £360million in 2016 to Aussie conglomerate Wesfarmers, which disastrously tried to use it as a UK launchpad for its Bunnings DIY brand, with car park “sausage sizzles” and soft furnishings scrapped for power tools.

Turnaround firm Hilco then stepped in.

Despite DIY spending soaring in the pandemic, Homebase racked up losses as costs spiralled, and the cost-of-living crisis then hit demand.

Homebase CEO Damian McGloughlin said: “It has been an incredibly challenging three years.

“A decline in consumer confidence has been exacerbated by persistent high inflation, global supply chain issues and unseasonable weather.”

TYCOON PLAYING THE FOOL

CHRIS Dawson left school without qualifications and can’t read or write — but has become one of the richest retailers in Britain.

His beginnings as a market stall trader gave him the gift of the gab and the art of cutting a deal.

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He started The Range in 1989 and has since made millions from it.

Chris, 71, leans into his reputation as a Del Boy billionaire with personalised number plates — while posing against his motor in Only Fools-inspired get-up.

Snapping up Wilko and Homebase so quickly suggests he isn’t done with his business empire just yet.

DELIVERY giant Just Eat Takeaway dealt with a severe case of indigestion yesterday by offloading its GrubHub US business for $650million (£509million).

It bought the firm for $7.3billion in 2021 at the height of the lockdown takeaway boom.

BURBERRY BID TO FEND OFF RIVALS

BURBERRY keeps it steamy in the winter months as it casts Rivals stars Alex Hassell and David Tennant in its Christmas campaign.

But like the characters in the saucy story by Jilly Cooper, the retailer has been thrust into its own rival takeover drama.

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For the past fortnight, the firm has been at the centre of rumours that Moncler, which sells puffa jackets for up to £1,500, is exploring a bid to snap it up.

Burberry has stayed schtum, while Italian brand Moncler also declined to comment.

But today, new boss of Burberry Joshua Schulman will be under the spotlight in his first City debut, alongside half-year results that are expected to lay bare the company’s ongoing sales slump.

HUGE CAR CLAIM

MILLIONS more drivers could be owed compensation in a car finance mis-selling scandal, it has emerged.

The FCA watchdog yesterday asked the Supreme Court to decide quickly whether lenders can appeal against last month’s ruling that it’s illegal for dealerships to take commission from motor finance providers.

Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis said the ruling meant “almost everyone who had car finance may have a complaint”, and could be a “PPI scale of payouts and a substantial threat to the industry.”

P.O. ‘DOUBLE PAY

THE POST OFFICE is set to double postmasters’ pay.

All its 115 directly owned branches are to be closed, putting 1,000 jobs at risk.

But chairman Nigel Railton said the money saved will allow franchised postmasters a bigger share of revenue.

He added change was needed to get off a “burning platform”.

The Post Office also revealed it is negotiating to extend its tech contract with Fujitsu despite its role in the Horizon IT bug scandal, which saw subpostmasters bankrupted or wrongly convicted of fraud.

OZ FIRM’S CALL FOR RATES AID

THE boss of homeware brand Harvey Norman has called on the Government to overhaul business rates as it plots a bigger UK expansion.

Harvey Norman, which has 320 shops globally, opened its first UK store in Merry Hill, near Dudley, last month.

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The Australian retail brand is opening an office in Sutton Coldfield and plans further shops in the Midlands area within the next year.

It already has a UK website selling sofas, TVs, laptops and washing machines.

MD Lachlan Roach said: “Our website works well but we know some customers want to look and feel the products.

“We’re a bit of John Lewis, a bit of Currys and we have a price guarantee against online retailers like AO too.”

Mr Roach said: “I think a review of business rates would entice a lot more businesses to open more sites. It’s a big risk operating stores.”

THAMES’ CASH TAP

THAMES Water has been given a lifeline after a necessary 75 per cent of creditors agreed to a £3billion emergency loan.

The rescue deal must be approved by a court, but it delays the threat of temporary nationalisation.

Bondholders are charging the UK’s biggest water firm 9.7 per cent interest for the loan but say it is the best option.

Thames warned it would run out of money without funding due to its debts of £19billion.

MILLIONS of households are bracing for an essential bill to rise by a whoping £109.

Downing Street confirmed this week that town halls will be free to whack up council tax levies by up to 5% in April – significantly above the current 1.7% inflation rate.

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At a fiery PMQs on Tuesday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch had demanded the Prime Minister rule out a rise.

But despite pledging in 2023 to freeze caps in Labour’s first year of government, Sir Keir Starmer replied: “On the question of councils, she knows what the arrangements are.”

The opposition chief responded: “I think the House will have heard that the Prime Minister could neither confirm nor deny whether the cap on council tax was being raised.”

The move will see bills in the average band D family household increase by £109.

The Tories accused ministers of secretly plotting to raise council tax by a whopping £2.4 billion.

At PMQs Ms Badenoch also slammed Sir Keir for not exempting care homes from the Budget employer’s national insurance raid.

She accused Labour of creating a “social care funding gap”.

The PM responded that an additional £600m for local authorities announced at the Budget would help plug any funding black holes.

It comes after The Sun reported how thousands of households could cut their council tax bill by up to £2,100 a year by filling in an easy form.

If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for some help towards your council tax.

Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.

If you find yourself struggling to pay your bill, you may also be able to get a deferral or speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.

But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.

However, those on low incomes can get their council tax bills reduced by up to 100%.

With the average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England currently standing at £2,171, it means households could potentially save thousands of pounds a year.

The highest possible council tax is for people who live in Band H properties in Rutland, where they will be charged a hefty £5,087 each year.

This year is the first time that this levy has cleared £5,000 for any household.

While most of us have more modest payments, the sharp rises may leave many families feeling the pinch, especially against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis.

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ASDA’S website has gone down leaving thousands of Brits unable to access their orders.

Problems first started being reported around 3pm on Tuesday – with the majority of customers struggling to use the app.

There have been over 1,000 complaints noted, according to Downdetector.

Downdetector tracks outages and said that “user reports indicate problems at Asda“.

Online shoppers up and down the country including people in Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, London and Plymouth have all experienced the outage.

Some 39 per cent have logged an issue on the app, with 33 per cent even struggling to log in while 28 per cent have complained through the webiste.

Brits have raged they can’t even order their food shop.

One customer said: “I can’t seem to log into my Asda account? It keeps saying something went wrong?

“How are we supposed to do an online shop if we can’t even log into the account?”

Meanwhile, others said it’s “becoming too regular a thing”.

They fumed: “I have been signed out of my Asda app for some reason and now it won’t accept my, very definitely correct, password.

“I asked for a link to reset the password to make things quicker, still haven’t received it! These problems are becoming too regular a thing.”

A second said on X: “Is the Asda App down? I cannot login no matter which device I try.”

Can you claim compensation for outages?

There’s no fixed compensation scheme for supermarket website outages like there is for other industries such as telecoms.

But if being unable to access your account has left you out of pocket for any reason, it’s worth contacting Asda.

You should gather evidence, for example, a delivery receipt, and get in touch with Asda’s customer service team.

For online grocery order issues, you can ring 0800 9520 395 which is free to call from landlines and mobiles.

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WETHERSPOON’S has rolled out its 2024 Christmas menu today with a raft of new items – but one festive classic hasn’t made an appearance.

The pub chain’s festive range is available from today until December 31, with some tasty bites and meal deals on offer.

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The new menu has been rolled out in all of Wetherspoons’ 900 pubs, and there are at least ten Christmas items to try while you enjoy a pint.

Last year’s menu included a bacon and garlic mushroom pizza, a brie and cranberry panini, and a salted caramel sticky toffee pudding.

What’s new on the menu this year?

For this year’s festive period, customers can order a new pizza version of the popular “big cheese burger” released last year, which is covered in gooey mozzarella, brie, cheddar, blue cheese sauce topped with rocket from £9.84.

Senior consumer reporter Adele Cooke tried the big cheese pizza and scored it 3.5 out of 5.

There’s also a smaller, eight inch portion available for £6.51 at the pub we visited – but prices vary depending on location.

It’s not the first time Wetherspoons has launched a festive-themed pizza, as it unveiled a chicken, stuffing, bacon and brie pizza in 2022.

This year, the menu also features a never-before-seen burger, pizza and dessert.

There’s also a new vegan five gold rings burger on offer from £10.43, combining a Beyond Meat plant-based patty, BBQ sauce, iceberg lettuce, tomato and red onion, topped with five onion rings.

For those looking for a lunchtime pick-me-up, there’s a brand new southern-fried chicken and stuffing wrap.

And for those with a sweet tooth, there’s the all-new cookies and cream blondie.

We’ve included the full list of prices below – but be aware that prices are different at every Wetherspoons, so yours might be cheaper or more expensive than the one we visited.

Several fan favourites are also returning this year.

The popular brie and bacon burger, chicken and stuffing burger and big cheese burger are back on the menu.

Also making a comeback is the chicken, stuffing, bacon and brie pizza; the chicken, stuffing, bacon and cranberry panini and the brie and cranberry panini.

But this year, the festive classic mince pie isn’t returning.

You also won’t find the bacon and garlic mushroom pizza on the menu either.

What is on the Wetherspoons Christmas menu?

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Here are the new festive menu items:

• Sliced turkey breast and winter vegetables – £13.99 with a soft drink or £15.61 with an alcoholic drink
• The big cheese burger – £11.89 with a soft drink or £13.51 with an alcoholic drink
• Brie & bacon burger – £11.89 with a soft drink or £13.51 with an alcoholic drink
• Chicken & stuffing burger – £11.89 with a soft drink or £13.51 with an alcoholic drink
• The five gold rings burger – £11.89 with a soft drink or £13.51 with an alcoholic drink
• 11″ chicken, stuffing, bacon & Brie pizza – £12.31 with a soft drink or £13.93 with an alcoholic drink
• 11″ big cheese pizza – £11.23 with a soft drink or £12.85 with an alcoholic drink
• Any 3 small plates – £18.09
• Pigs in Blankets – £6.13
• The big cheese chips – £6.66
• 8″ chicken, stuffing, bacon & Brie pizza – £7.73
• 8″ big cheese pizza – £7.18
• Chicken, stuffing, bacon & cranberry panini – £7.45 with a soft drink or £9.07 with an alcoholic drink
• Brie & cranberry panini – £7.45 with a soft drink or £9.07 with an alcoholic drink
• 12″ southern-fried chicken & stuffing wrap – £7.45 with a soft drink or £9.07 with an alcoholic drink
• 10″ southern-fried chicken & stuffing wrap – £5.86 with a soft drink or £7.48 with an alcoholic drink
• Cookies & cream blondie – £6.26
• Chocolate-Orange Espresso Martini – £6.99 each or two for £13.50

Prices may vary depending on location.

The festive Deli Deals are also back from £4.11 next month.

Customers can get a chicken, stuffing, bacon and cranberry panini or brie and cranberry panini.

There’s also a small southern-fried chicken and stuffing wrap and southern-fried chicken and stuffing wrap back on menus.

The Deli Deals and other festive meal options, including burgers, pizzas and roast, all come with a soft or alcoholic drink.

Wetherspoons isn’t the only chain or retailer gearing up for the festive period.

Côte restaurants has launched an indulgent range of Christmas meals that shoppers can get delivered to their front door.

And the range has been designed by none other than Steve Allen – Gordon’s Ramsay’s former Executive Chef.

Tesco has also unveiled its Christmas range for 2024, including pigs in blankets stuffing balls and a fancy dessert costing £20.

Meanwhile, Aldi is offering customers some quirky items this year including fudge-flavoured cheese.

M&S and Sainsbury’s have both shared their Christmas menus with customers too.

How often does Wetherspoons change its menu?

Wetherspoons makes changes to its menus several times a year in order to refresh its menu and compete with its rivals.

Last month it cut down the price of its ales, spirits and largers, which means customers can pick up  a pint of Ruddles Best for just £1.79.

Meanwhile, in May it axed 18 drinks from its menus in a major shakeup.

A number of spirits were dropped from menus in May, including Lambs Navy Rum, Bombay Bramble and Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon.

Duppy Share White, Chase pink grapefruit pomelo gin and Buffalo Trace were also cut.

In April the popular pub chain added several items to its menu including a ramen noodle bowl, shawarma chicken wrap and three new breakfast items.

THIRTY years ago today, the first-ever National Lottery tickets went on sale.

And since then the cash draw has given away an astonishing £94BILLION in prize money and created 7,400 millionaires.

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To mark the milestone, celebrity photographer Rankin brought together 30 jackpot winners for a photoshoot.

The lucky lot, whose ages range from 25 to 80, have won £194,465,555 in total.

They include EuroMillions winners Gareth Bull, who won £40million, and Lesley Higgins.

She scooped nearly £58million and says the lottery saved her husband’s life.

Here, all 30 tell their tales of the ultimate in lotto luck

£1,000,000

1. MATT MYLES Apr 8, 2014

WHEN factory worker Matt won the EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker, he jumped on a plane to join his mates on a lads’ holiday that he had previously not been able to afford.

He says: “For the first 12 months after my win, I went a bit wild. I flew to Bali for five weeks, on to Thailand, and Brazil for the World Cup, which was unbelievable, then I went to Ibiza for a mega holiday with 13 of my pals.”

Matt, 38, who lives in Hereford with wife Stacey, 35, and their two young sons, now runs a property business and still keeps his winner’s giant cheque in his shed.

£1,038,997

2. JULIE JEFFERY Jun, 2002

JULIE kept working as a fire station cook after her win, and only retired in June this year.

She says: “I loved my job,” and adds: “Early on I went into a boutique in London and saw Amanda Holden. I had such a strong urge to go up to her and shout, ‘I’ve won the lottery!’”

Her first post-win purchase was a six-sided cheese grater, but since then Julie, 63, and husband Chris, 68, of Watford, Herts, have gone on to buy a holiday park home in Devon.

The couple have two grown-up children and Julie says: “Our win allowed our children to start their families earlier, so I thank the National Lottery for my grandchildren!”

£10,000 a month for 30 years

3. SYLIA 0DOLANT-SMITH Oct 24, 2019

DAYS before her Set For Life win, Sylvia’s beloved rescue cat Phangan was diagnosed with cancer and needed treatment she could not afford.

Former caterer Sylvia, 47, took her straight back to the vet and ordered medication and care that extended her life by eight months.

She says: “The winnings bought us time with her that I’ll remember for ever.”

Sylvia and husband Gavin, 44, now live in Essex and France.

She says: “We bought a little flat in Brittany, which we’re doing up.

“Our plan is to do up properties, enjoy life together – and continue to rescue animals.”

£2,003,705

4. BRIAN SHARP Jun 19, 2010

GRANDAD of five Brian had always dreamed of living by the river in Musselburgh, East Lothian – and he snapped up a five-bedroom home there just five days after his jackpot win.

But the 63-year-old former electrician didn’t quit his job so fast, and says: “I had to work another six weeks before they found a replacement for me.”

He adds: “Our winning cheque is framed and takes pride of place in our downstairs toilet.”

Brian and wife Anne, 62, now spend a lot of time travelling.

He says: “Our aim is to see every Formula One grand prix.

“My favourite saying is, ‘How much for cash?’.”

£1,000,000

5. BEN LOWTHER Oct 2021

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VIDEO games developer Ben won EuroMillions’ UK Millionaire Maker prize on a Friday, and was made redundant the next Monday.

He says: “I was devastated to lose my job but we were in a more fortunate situation thanks to our win.

“A neighbour lost his job too, so it was lovely that we could help them out financially so close to Christmas.”

Ben, 41, and fiancée Holly, 31, used their lottery win to buy a four-bedroom house in Cambridge, where they live with their three children.

Ben also proposed to Holly, and they are now planning the wedding of their dreams.

£57,975,367

6. LESLEY HIGGINS July 10, 2018

PORT worker Lesley, 63, had always dreamed of having a swimming pool – but now she takes dips in her very own loch.

She and husband Fred, 74, bought an 850-acre estate near Perth after their EuroMillions win and she says: “We learned to farm alongside Jeremy Clarkson’s TV show.”

The couple, who have one daughter, also credit the win with saving Fred’s life.

When he bought a custom-made kilt, a tailor noticed his dramatic weight loss between fittings.

Fred was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had successful surgery.

Lesley says: “I feel that the lottery saved his life in a way.”

£6,048,499

7. VIV MOSS Oct 3, 1998

THREE weeks after their big win, hairdresser Viv and her partner Kevin got married.

But it was hardly extravagant, with the reception at a Harvester restaurant costing £375.

 She says: “It was so last-minute that we scraped ‘Merry Xmas’ off an M&S festive cake and placed a mini bride and groom on top instead.

“I cried at the wedding because I was still in shock.”

Grandparents Viv, now 73, and Kevin, 78, later moved to Newquay in Cornwall, and she says: “We saw apartments being built overlooking our favourite bay, and bought one.

“Now I bodyboard in the surf whenever the weather allows.”

£1,000,000

8. NATALIE CUNLIFFE Feb 2016

AFTER their scratchcard win, event planner Natalie and husband Andrew, 45, moved to a new home in Blackpool with their ten-year-old daughter and six-year-old son. 

Natalie, 39, says: “Andrew popped the question straight after the win and we had our dream wedding in Cyprus.

“We bought an Audi Q5 but I still shop at Aldi and always get discount codes.”

She adds: “Our son loves sport, and our daughter has a one-to-one football coach and is inspired by the Lionesses.

“We’ve been to see them play, and we’ve installed goalposts in the garden to help her train.”

£40,627,241

9. GARETH BULL Jan 20, 2012

FORMER builder Gareth spent some of his colossal fortune on a bungalow on a large plot in Mansfield, Notts, then knocked it down and moved into a caravan on site.

During lockdown he then built his own four-bedroom mansion with an eight-foot projector screen, a pool with wave machine and hot tubs.

Dad-of-two Gareth, 53, recalls: “My friends said, ‘You’ve won £40,000,000 and moved into a caravan!’ 

“When lockdown happened the builders had to stop but I just carried on alone.”

He even dug a lake and built what he calls a Lottery Lodge on the shore.

£1,054,000

10. ANNE CANAVAN Aug 28, 2015

LANDLADY Anne’s EuroMillions win has allowed her some spare time to work on an invention she hopes will help her clean up even more – the “Snotblot”, a kids’ wristband that stores tissues.

The 63-year-old grandma of five has also written a children’s novel which she hopes will be published.

Anne, who splits her time between Northern Ireland and Kingston-upon-Thames in South West London, also treated herself to a car – though nothing too flash.

She says: “I read that Roald Dahl used to drive an old banger, so I bought a 2008 Saab.”

£7,649,520

11. RAY WRAGG Jan 22, 2000

BIG-hearted construction supervisor Ray and his wife Barbara gave away £5.5million of their Lotto jackpot to family, friends, hospitals and good causes in Sheffield.

They once took 250 school children to a Disney On Ice show and paid £12,000 for war veterans to revisit Monte Cassino in Italy, scene of a devastating 1944 battle.

Barbara died in 2018 but Ray is now sharing his life with new partner Anne, 85.    

He says: “I found happiness again when I met Anne on a cruise and we’ve just gone 50-50 on a three-bedroom bungalow together.”

£14,003,369

12. JACKIE KING Nov 1998

THE first thing that mum-of-two Jackie did after her Lotto win was organise a trip to Lapland for her sons and 35 family and friends. 

Administrator Jackie, 68, bought a six-bedroom house in Humberston, North Lincs, but downsized when her sons, now aged 35 and 32, left home.

She says: “I don’t think the win changed me but when I first won, people would say to me, ‘What are you still doing in Grimsby?’ 

“I was also questioned when I looked at the sale rails in House of Fraser – but I still like a bargain.”

£1,000,000

13. JODIE LANGSTON Oct 2019

JODIE had been saving up for a pair of Ugg boots when she won on an Instant Win Game.

The 27-year-old recalls: “When I won, I said to my sister, ‘There’s three different colours, which pair should I choose?’ and she replied, ‘You’ve won the lottery – you can afford all three!’.”

Jodie, of Northfield, South Birmingham, married 28-year-old decorator Alex in July this year – and did not scrimp on the event.

She says: “I had the wedding of my dreams – a huge country house, nine groomsmen and nine bridesmaids, with a honeymoon in Greece.”

£13,861,061

14. DEAN ALLEN Aug 5, 2000

THE company where printer Dean and his girlfriend Louise worked was getting rid of half the staff.

Four days later he won a mega Lotto rollover.

Dean, 50, of Ongar, Essex, gave up work straight away and married Louise, now 47, and they have two girls.

His new life of leisure allowed him to help with sports at his daughters’ school, which he did for nine years, and he qualified as a coach for West Ham United’s foundation and academy.

Dean says: “I drive a Mini now and don’t feel the need for a big car.

“It’s taken me 24 years to become a grown-up.”

£1,000,000

15. CERI ROSCOE-ROBERTS Nov 3, 2023

CARE company manager Ceri has always been prone to having vivid dreams.

So when she told her 46-year-old husband Paul of their EuroMillions win early one morning, she recalls: “He thought it had been one of my dreams.”

The couple, who have five children, quickly embarked on a new life in Snowdonia in North Wales.

Ceri, 43, says: “We bought a guest house with every bedroom ensuite, and a garage.

“I wake up every morning and it still takes a while for reality to sink in.”

£2,704,666

16. ELAINE THOMPSON Dec 9, 1995

ELAINE hit the lottery jackpot on her 17th wedding anniversary to her 66-year-old husband Derek.

She says: “We were whisked off to the Waldorf Hotel in London by the National Lottery, but when I saw the menu there I refused to pay £35 for a burger and we walked to McDonald’s.”

They used some of their win to open a restaurant in Lyme Regis, Dorset, then bought a four-bedroom house in North Shields, Tyne and Wear.

Elaine, 69, says: “Since winning we have bought four racehorses and this year we achieved our ambition to visit every racecourse in the UK.”

£4,078,509

17. DONNA HENDRY Jan 7, 2015

WINNING their jackpot allowed Donna and husband David to spend five precious years fulfilling their dreams before he died in June 2020 aged 51, after a short battle with cancer.

The couple, who have one son, quit their jobs and bought a home in Mid Calder, West Lothian, and commercial executive Donna, 54, says: “We spent every day together.

“We went on amazing trips, including Memphis, because David was such an Elvis fan.

“We even had a special Elvis suit made so he could serenade his friend at a Vegas wedding, and I still have that video, although I can’t bring myself to watch it just yet.”

£13,538,113

18. PETER CONGDON May 27, 2015

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GREAT grandad Peter gave £1.2million of his winnings to fund a hydro pool at a local multiple sclerosis centre in memory of his late wife Rosemary, who had the condition for 30 years.

Peter, 76, from Truro, Cornwall, was a retired funeral director before his big win and ran a Ford Kuga, but afterwards he treated himself to a £100,000 BMW i8. 

He says: “I was pulled over by a policeman and he said, ‘There’s nothing wrong – I just want to admire your car’.”

He adds: “At weekends I drive brides to their weddings for free in my £250,000 Bentley Continental.”

£1,000,000

19. NEIL LEIGHTON Dec 2023

ASSISTANT leisure centre manager Neil won a million playing an Instant Win game on his phone.

He says: “My mum didn’t believe me, so I sent her a screenshot of the winnings in my bank account.

“A month after my win, I took 13 of my friends to Greece and hired a beautiful villa.

“It cost £30,000 – then ‘sensible Neil’ took over.” 

The 25-year-old bought a four-bedroom house near his parents in Hereford and says: “Mum still cooks me tea.”

He adds: “My main spending will be on train memorabilia. I’d love to have a steam train at some point – even if it was a small ride-on railway.”

£1,017,166

20. HANNAH HALLSWORTH Nov 2008

STUDENT Hannah was just 19 when she became a millionaire, and recalls thinking: “This can really change my life if I’m sensible.”

She qualified as a personal trainer, then used some of her windfall to compete in bodybuilding contests around the world.

She says: “It helped to pay for flights, hairstyling, specialist spray tans and beautiful, bespoke outfits.”

Hannah is now 35, and works as a trainer part-time and lives in a four-bedroom home in Sheffield with partner Mark, 37, and their toddler son.

She says: “My happiness is complete.”

£2,604,015

21. MATT EVANS Jul 8, 2015

FOOTBALL-mad Matt turned his back garden into a pitch after hitting the jackpot, complete with full-size goals and a dugout.

But it still took the former postman some time to fully adjust to his win.

He says: “I was in shock. I spent £700 on new clothes but then I didn’t spend anything for a month.

“I was afraid to leave the house for weeks.”

Since then Matt, 44, who lives in Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan with girlfriend Hollie, 30, and their young son, has travelled the world to watch Cardiff City FC and Wales play.

£1,000,000

22. DEBBIE GOOLDING Jul 2020

6

CATERER Debbie’s £5 scratchcard from Tesco sat in the bottom of her bag – until she remembered to check it one night while she was watching the Will Smith movie Independence Day on TV.

Next day, the 51-year-old mum of four and her husband, heating engineer Joseph, 42, hit the shops.

She recalls: “We bought iPads for the children and expensive Calvin Klein boxer shorts for Joe.”

They later built their own home in Aldershot, Hants, but they both still work.

Debbie says: “One customer couldn’t believe I’d won the lottery. He said, ‘You look so normal’.”

£3, 570, 063

23. GERALDINE BRADLEY Mar 11, 2006

HAIRDRESSER Geraldine and her husband Christopher, 53, celebrated their win with a £9.99 box of KFC.

The mum of two says: “We were scared to spend anything for the first six months.”

But since then the couple have allowed themselves a splurge on their love of motorcycles.

Geraldine, 55, of Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, says: “For my 40th, I treated myself to a £7,000, 600cc Honda with a top speed of 156mph. We even once had our hedge cut in the shape of a motorbike.”

She still works two days a week but notes: “The tips did stop.”

£3,665,079

24. CELESTE COLES Jul 12, 2022

6

RETIRED college lecturer Celeste thought it was fate when she checked her EuroMillions numbers late one night on her laptop.

She recalls: “I always thought I was going to win – and win big.”

The mum of two from Birmingham says: “My daughter Rachel has Down’s syndrome and one of my very first thoughts was that I could help to secure her future.”

Celeste, 71, also bought a flat in Spain, helped family in Barbados and splashed out on globe-trotting adventures.

She adds: “Next I plan to visit North America, and I can’t wait.”

£10,000 a month for 30 years

25. JAMES EVANS Dec 28, 2020

JAMES was on his PlayStation when he got an email telling him of his Set For Life win.

The 25-year-old landscaper and paver then rang to check and says: “Apparently I was the most chilled winner who had ever called the lottery hotline, but in truth I was in shock.”

James bought a house in Swadlincote, Leics, and fitted it out with a hot tub and gazebo.

He also helped to design and build a memorial garden for the charity Canine Partners, which provides assistance dogs for disabled people.

He says: “It took two weeks but when I saw the charity’s film about their work, I actually cried.”

£3,800,000

26. JONNY JOHNSTON Dec 16, 2023

STRAIGHT after he found out about his Lotto win, Tesco delivery driver Jonny did a shift in the pouring rain.

He says: “I couldn’t bear the thought of my elderly customers being let down.”

The 46-year-old, who still works one day a week, went on to marry his long-term partner Christina, 46, with whom he has three children.

Among his buys, he has treated himself to some new wheels – of an unusual kind.

Jonny, from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, says: “I drive the same car, but I did buy five tractors.

“But I’ve promised I will stop now.”

£1,000,000

27. KATE DONAGHEY Sept 2018

6

FULL-time mum Kate did not believe it when her 39-year-old hubby Darren went shopping for milk and came back with a winning scratchcard.

She recalls: “I kept saying, ‘Where’s the milk?’ while he was shouting, ‘We’ve won a million pounds’.”

The couple, from Gosforth, Newcastle, bought a new house and can now afford to be stay-at-home parents to their two children, who both have autism.

Kate, 34, says of the win: “It’s emotional because the money gives them security in the future. Our National Lottery win drastically changed our lives for the better.”

£1,000,000

28. JAMIE HEAVENS Sept 9, 2016

WHEN he won his fortune with a scratchcard, Jamie was 22, dad to a nine-week-old baby boy – and so broke that he could not afford to marry his fiancée Danielle.

But the former roofer and his partner, from Bournemouth, have since treated themselves to a £25,000 wedding and have a second child. 

Jamie, now 30, also started his own breakdown business, while Danielle, 29, began a cake company.

Jamie says: “I can step back from work a bit now, and I’ve taken up fishing.

“The win still hasn’t really sunk in.”

£10,000 a month for 30 years

29. JOANNE JOBSON Feb 22, 2024

JOANNE was working nights as a carer at a home for children with disabilities when she won the Set For Life game.

The 51-year-old, from Hartlepool, Co Durham, says: “I rang and told my deputy and she simply said, ‘Go and enjoy your life’.

“I bought a four-bedroom house just a month after my win and I also treated myself to a diamond ring in an antique shop – something I never would have done before.”

Joanne now plans a trip to London to see Abba Voyage and to go up the Shard.

But she says: “I still pop into the care home and have tea with the kids there.”

£3,045,705

30. SARAH COCKINGS Apr 30, 2005

STUDENT Sarah hit the headlines after her win for buying boob jobs for her two sisters and herself.

But she has rarely splurged her cash since then.

The 40-year-old says: “We took the children camping every year and only actually went abroad with them for the first time this year.”

Sarah also bought a home in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, where she lives with her partner, their young son and three children from a previous relationship.

She says: “Now I’m planning on doing something new – maybe a dog-grooming course.”