A solitary UK lottery player is waking up to a life-altering fortune this morning after winning the entire £13.3 million jackpot in Wednesday night's special 'must-be-won' draw.
The Winning Numbers and Prize Breakdown
The fortunate ticket-holder matched all six main numbers – 2, 5, 22, 35, 44, and 54 – plus the bonus ball, 23. The draw, which took place on Wednesday 14 January 2026, was a designated 'must-be-won' event, meaning the top prize had to be awarded that night.
Andy Carter, the senior winners' advisor at Allwyn, which operates The National Lottery, issued an urgent plea for players to check their tickets. "We're desperate to find our latest multi-millionaire and start the process of guiding them through this incredible life change," he said.
The windfall wasn't limited to the jackpot winner. The draw created two new millionaires, with two other players each winning £1 million for matching five numbers and the bonus ball. A further 63 participants won £1,750 each.
What Happens After a Must-Be-Won Draw?
Following the rules of a must-be-won draw, the jackpot resets to a lower amount. The prize pool for the next draw, scheduled for Saturday 18 January 2026, now stands at an estimated £3.8 million.
These special draws are triggered when the jackpot reaches a certain cap or after a specified number of rollovers, guaranteeing that the top prize will be paid out to a matching ticket-holder that evening. If no one matches all six numbers, the prize fund is shared among winners in the next prize tier.
Urgent Call to Check Tickets
Lottery officials are urging all players who purchased a ticket for the Wednesday draw to check it immediately. The winner, who has yet to come forward, should sign the back of their ticket and contact the National Lottery line to begin the claims process.
This massive win serves as a potent reminder of the transformative power of the National Lottery, which creates new millionaires weekly while also generating billions for good causes across the arts, sports, and community projects throughout the United Kingdom.
