Record-Breaking EuroMillions Jackpot Awaits Claimant
Imagine holding a ticket worth £145 million, stuck at the bottom of your handbag or forgotten in a jacket pocket. That’s exactly what’s happening right now in Manchester, where the winning EuroMillions ticket from the 1 August 2025 draw is still missing in action. The whole situation has sparked a nationwide hunt to find the mysterious winner, with the EuroMillions team more desperate than ever to avoid seeing this life-changing prize go unclaimed.
The winning numbers—5, 12, 27, 38, 49, with Lucky Stars 3 and 7—were sold at a small, local newsagent in Manchester. Only one lucky ticket matched the entire set, making it the sole winner of one of the UK’s largest jackpots this year. National Lottery staff are on edge as the weeks tick by without a sign of the new millionaire.
The Search Intensifies: Time is Running Out
Winners of National Lottery prizes have a tight 180-day window to make their claim. For the EuroMillions winner, this means a hard deadline of 28 January 2026. If the cash isn’t collected by then, it’s destined for the National Lottery’s ‘Good Causes’ fund, backing a wide range of community projects and charities up and down the country.
Liso, the Consumer Manager for Allwyn (the company behind the National Lottery), hasn't minced words: “This is one of the largest unclaimed jackpots in EuroMillions history. We’re worried the lucky ticket holder doesn’t know they’ve won—or worse, they might chuck the ticket away!”
To keep hope alive, the Lottery has launched an all-out publicity blitz. There’s a special hotline, a dedicated web portal, and reminders everywhere from bus stops in Manchester to news broadcasts and social media. It’s a genuine plea to check every wallet, purse, drawer, or car glove box for that magical slip bearing the winning numbers.
This isn’t the first time a winner almost missed out. Back in 2007, Terry and Lynn Patience from Barking nearly lost their £2.5 million winnings after forgetting about their ticket. It took a chance radio mention to remind them—sometimes, happy endings come right at the wire.
Lottery bosses are clear: if you think that windfall is too good to be true, think again. If your numbers match, you’re the next big millionaire on their roster.
To pile on the pressure, any interest earned on the unclaimed £145 million will keep growing until someone steps forward. So, if you or someone you know played in Manchester in late July, grab those tickets. A forgotten piece of paper could turn out to be the most valuable thing you own.
