The National Lottery celebrates its 30th birthday on Tuesday after transforming thousands of lives and funding a golden generation of British Olympians. The launch draw took place on Saturday, November 19, 1994, on a live TV show hosted by a then-45-year-old Noel Edmonds. It was watched by 22 million people as lottery frenzy gripped the country.
The jackpot of £5.6million was jointly shared by seven lucky players. The winning numbers were 3, 5, 14, 22, 30 and 44 – and the bonus ball was 10.
Ken Southwell, from York, celebrated his £839,254 jackpot in his local pub by borrowing money to buy everyone a round. Ken soon found himself out of a job as a TV installer when his desire to turn out on a cold winter day was questioned. But he went on to set up his own successful business, buying property including two pubs and a tea room, and continued to live in the community where he was raised.
However, the father-of-three died from a brain tumour just 12 years later. The first big winner was Mukhtar Mohidin, 42, who picked up £17.9million the following month from a six-week rollover.
The factory shift worker was snubbed by the strict Muslim community because of his gambling and fled his terraced home in Blackburn, eventually settling in Berkshire. He changed his name to Mike and claimed to be an investment banker. A rather acrimonious divorce followed and he plunged into a life of parties, escorts and London casinos.
He is now buried in an unmarked grave after dying from alcoh.