John and Allison McDonald were today revealed as the lucky couple to win the £2million jackpot prize on December 18. Their identity had been kept secret by National Lottery operators Camelot until today. In a grand unveiling at Crathorne Hall, Yarm, in Teeside, the couple, from Stockton-on-Tees told of their joy after being told their 15-year-old son Ewan was clear of cancer.

Mr McDonald said: “It is just like all of our lifelong dreams came true in the space of three days.

“What a start to 2020. Everyone always dreams of winning the lottery at Christmas – and talks about how amazing this would be – but Allison and I never believed it would happen to us – and it has.

“And then to receive news that Ewan’s latest scans are all clear is just truly amazing. We are so thankful.

“2020 is certainly looking like being one amazing year for the three of us!”

Ewan was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in May last year and underwent chemotherapy treatment.

Both Mr McDonald, 62, a security officer who frequently worked 70-hour weeks, and Mrs McDonald, 49, who worked in an opticians, have now handed in their notices at work.

Mrs McDonald said: “This is just the most amazing feeling ever!”

Camelot said it was “the best ever start to 2020 for them”.

John described the moment he checked his ticket while he was in work. 

He said: “I had finished my routine patrols and was sitting having a cup of tea when I remembered I had not checked my lottery ticket.

“I quickly realised I had matched two numbers and I thought great – this means I have won a Lucky Dip.

“I then realised I had matched three numbers and I was absolutely over the moon – thinking we can do something nice this weekend as a family.

“But as I continued to check I realised I had matched all six. I was just in total shock. My legs were trembling as I called Camelot to check that what I was seeing was in fact right.

“I couldn’t believe it when the news was confirmed. I immediately called Allison who was in the dentist at the time.”

Allison said when she noticed a missed call from John she immediately thought the worst: “All sorts of thoughts rushed through my head.

“I just thought oh no why is he calling me – something must be wrong – something terrible has happened – has something gone wrong with Ewan?

“Never did I believe when I called him back he would be telling me we had won the Lotto Jackpot.”

On the top of the shopping list now is a new family home – a detached house with four bedrooms and a lovely garden.

Allison, who has been on health care leave from work to enable her to look after Ewan, said, “It is fantastic that this win has not only given us the financial security to buy a lovely new family home – but also time.

“We can both now afford to stop work and spend time with our family making memories – something we could only have ever dreamed of doing.”

Travel and going to visit new places is also high on the agenda for the couple, who also have two other children and three grandchildren.

John and Allison bought their ticket from Asda in Portrack Lane, Stockton on Tees.

The National Lottery celebrated its 25th birthday on 19 November last year. The birthday was a moment to celebrate the extraordinary impact The National Lottery has had on the UK, and to say thank you to National Lottery players for contributing around £30million to Good Causes every week.

A staggering £40 billion has been raised for Good Causes with 565,000 grants made across arts, sport, heritage and community.

Players have banked a whopping £71 billion in prizes and a staggering 5,500 millionaires have been made.

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