National Lottery officials are actively searching for an individual who has yet to claim a £1 million jackpot from a ticket purchased in Greater Manchester. The deadline for claiming the prize is midnight on December 28.
Andy Carter, representing lottery operator Allwyn, expressed hope for a swift resolution, stating, "We'd love to find the person we've been looking for and turn this search into a celebration. So, if you bought a ticket in the area, dig it out, check those numbers and help us find Tameside's missing millionaire. It could be you."
The winning numbers for the unclaimed prize were 5, 8, 26, 33, 39, and 42, with the Bonus Ball being 54.
In a separate draw on Wednesday, one ticket matched all six main numbers to win £2.8 million, and two others each won £1 million by matching five numbers plus the Bonus Ball. The estimated jackpot for the upcoming Saturday draw is £2 million.
This is not the first time a significant lottery prize has gone unclaimed. Earlier this year, a £10.6 million jackpot was forfeited after the winner failed to come forward within the 180-day claim period. The ticket for that prize was bought in Bexley, south-east London, on October 4, 2025. The unclaimed funds were subsequently donated to charities supported by the National Lottery.
A similar search was initiated last year for a winning EuroMillions ticket purchased in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area for a November 4 draw. Previous winners Jamie and Danielle Heavens, who won £1 million themselves, supported that hunt.
Last summer, the largest-ever EuroMillions jackpot of £208 million remained unclaimed for a period before the winner, from Ireland, eventually came forward. That win surpassed the previous UK record of £195 million set in July 2022 by a UK ticket-holder.
Winners of the National Lottery have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their prizes. Unclaimed funds are directed to the National Lottery's Good Causes fund, which supports various charitable initiatives across the United Kingdom.