A young tradesman who scooped millions on the National Lottery has shared his girlfriend’s hilarious reaction to the moment he discovered he had won a life-changing sum. James Clarkson, 20, who works alongside his parents Stephen and Becky in property maintenance, won £7,533,329 on the Lotto jackpot on January 4, 2025.
He purchased the winning ticket after scooping £120 in the special Lotto Christmas Day draw. He used part of that prize to buy five lines for the New Year’s draw, including two Lucky Dip lines and three lines of randomly selected numbers. It was one of the randomly chosen lines that delivered the massive jackpot.
Recounting the moment he found out, James said he was at his girlfriend’s house on January 5 and had woken up early to admire the snowfall, reports the Mirror. While checking his phone, he noticed a message from the National Lottery. “At first, I couldn’t see anything, but then I scrolled down and realised I’d matched all six main numbers. I saw the prize amount—£7,533,329—and thought I was dreaming!”
20-year-old James Clarkson celebrates winning £7,533,329 on the National Lottery with his parents, grandparents and family members.
Excited, he woke his girlfriend to share the news, but her reaction was less than enthusiastic. “She took a sleepy glance at my phone and said, ‘No, you haven’t won,’ then rolled over and went back to sleep!” James laughed. Doubting himself, he called his dad, who suggested he come home to confirm the win.
Back at his parents’ house, James sat with his family — dad Stephen, mum Becky, and brother Thomas, 24 — waiting for the National Lottery Line to open at 9am. When the operator confirmed the win, James couldn’t help but laugh. “It was mad!” he said.
The celebrations began soon after. James visited his girlfriend and other family members before everyone gathered at his grandparents’ house for a roast beef dinner and champagne. “News spread fast—we’re a close family!” James said.
James Clarkson
(Image: Anthony Devlin/National Lottery/PA Wire)
Despite the life-changing win, James was back to work the following Monday, fixing blocked drains in the cold. “It was a bit grim, but that’s reality,” he said. “I’m not going to stop working. I’m too young, and I want to qualify as a heating engineer. Plus, my dad wouldn’t let me stop working — he says everyone needs a purpose in life.”
James, who left school during Covid pandemic, initially pursued an apprenticeship in bricklaying before joining his dad in property maintenance. “Bricklaying was tough and cold, but working with dad has more variety, and I’m working toward my gas engineer certification,” he said.
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While James plans to continue working, he’s treating himself and his loved ones along the way. He has already booked a luxury trip to Cape Verde, bought a Gucci bag for his girlfriend, and treated himself to designer jackets. Next on his wishlist? A new car, preferably an Audi. “Driving a cold work van all day makes you appreciate things like heated seats!” he joked.
A lifelong Manchester City fan, James hopes to attend more games and get season tickets for himself and his family. But his biggest priority is helping his loved ones. “I’ve told my parents I want to pay off their mortgage,” he said. “This win isn’t just for me—I want my family to benefit too. They’ve always been there for me, and now it’s my turn to give back.”
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