National Lottery officials are actively searching for an individual who purchased a winning ticket in Greater Manchester, entitling them to a £1 million jackpot. The deadline for claiming the prize is midnight on December 28.
Andy Carter, representing lottery operator Allwyn, expressed hope that the winner will come forward, stating, "The winning ticket could be tucked away somewhere completely ordinary while its owner has absolutely no idea they are a millionaire." He urged residents to check their tickets for the numbers 5, 8, 26, 33, 39, 42, with the Bonus Ball being 54.
This situation echoes previous instances where lottery winners have failed to claim their prizes. Earlier this year, a player who bought a ticket in Bexley, south-east London, on October 4, 2025, did not claim a £10.6 million jackpot within the 180-day limit. The unclaimed funds were subsequently donated to charities supported by the National Lottery. Similarly, a search was conducted for a winner of a EuroMillions draw on November 4 of the previous year, with a ticket purchased in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area.
Previous lottery champions Jamie and Danielle Heavens have supported such searches, with Mr. Heavens having won £1 million at the age of 22. He used his winnings for a new car, his wedding, and to start his own business.
The largest unclaimed prize to date was a EuroMillions ticket worth £63,837,543.60 from a draw on June 8, 2012, purchased in the Stevenage and Hitchin area of Hertfordshire. National Lottery winners generally have 180 days to claim their prize. If a prize remains unclaimed after this period, the funds are transferred to the National Lottery's Good Causes fund.