The pair were enjoying their McDonald’s when a suspected ‘spam call’ came through
11:25, 01 Dec 2025Updated 12:34, 01 Dec 2025
Rob and Lisa Nicholson(Image: Omaze/SWNS)
A couple found out they had hit the jackpot – while tucking into McFlurrys.
Rob and Lisa Nicholson were enjoying the McDonald’s treat on a shopping trip when they got a call telling them to come home and claim a prize.
Rob said he almost didn’t answer when Omaze rang as he thought it was a “spam call”. But after being given the news they had won £1m (€1.13m) they described it as a ‘very happy meal indeed’. They dashed home to scoop the tax-free life-changing sum – after buying a ticket for just £15 (€17).
Engineer Rob, 69, and NHS worker Lisa, 54, said they can now celebrate their 23-year wedding anniversary in style this week and will be able to retire early to support their three children.
The pair were in York visiting their youngest son, Max, at university when Omaze called. They were sitting in McDonald’s, about to tuck into a McFlurry and coffees, when the phone rang.
Rob said: “We were enjoying a well-earned McFlurry after attempting a bit of dreaded Christmas shopping. I didn’t answer the first couple of calls because we thought it was probably a spam caller trying to flog us something.
Rob and Lisa Nicholson(Image: Omaze/SWNS)
“When I finally picked up and realised it was Omaze, I looked at my wife and said ‘I think we need to ditch the McFlurrys and get home now!’ So we left our McFlurrys in a hurry and headed straight back to the house to meet the Omaze team.
“After the dust had settled and we knew we’d become millionaires, we were both in shock. I wasn’t sure how to celebrate so suggested having a nice cup of tea, but my wife said opening a bottle of wine would be far more appropriate.”
Rob, a design engineer who has worked in the industry for 40 years, lives in West Yorkshire with Lisa, who works for the NHS as a social care administrator. The couple, who will celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this week, have three children: Charlotte, 31, Lewis, 30, and Max, 21.
He continued: “When I told my boss he said ‘why are you still here?’ as he assumed I’d retire straight away. But I love my job and I love the people I work with, so I’ll cut down my days for a while and then finally retire and pass the baton on. I’ve mainly carried on working so we can pay our son’s university fees, thanks to the win we can now pay them all off in one go.”
Rob said the Omaze Monthly Millionaire Draw win could not have come at a better time. He added: “This is such a life-changing sum of money, it will really transform things for the whole family.
“Both our boys are autistic, so having this extra money will make a big difference. We’ll be able to help all three of the kids, it means the world to us that we’ll be able to give our children such a fantastic head start in life.”
Rob also said how life has been challenging in recent times: “It feels like it’s been one thing after another for us over the past few years.
Rob said he almost didn’t answer when Omaze rang as he thought it was a ‘spam call'(Image: Omaze/SWNS)
“My wife lost her mum to leukaemia a few years ago, and her dad now lives with us. Our daughter Charlotte has moved back home recently too. So this win really does take a huge amount of pressure off all of us, a cloud has been lifted and we’ve now got permanent smiles on our faces.”
Their daughter Charlotte, who works 6am-9pm six days a week trying to save for a deposit for a house, burst into tears when she heard the news.
Rob said: “My wife rang her and told her, and Charlotte said: I told you something good was going to happen to you, you deserve it so much. We can now help her get her first home, it’s beyond wonderful.”
He said that he never considered himself a lucky man, joking: “I once won £3 in a raffle, that cost me £3, but I’ve more than broken even this time. Seeing all those zeros land in my account is something I’ll never forget.”
He added: “My wife has already said it’s time for us to have some time together, enjoy life and treat ourselves. I know she’s had her eye on a special bag, but now we can go back to get it. I imagine the Christmas lists will be pretty long this year! Although we won’t waste it all, my wife still bought a second class stamp yesterday.”
As well as changing Rob and Lisa’s lives forever, Omaze helps raise money for good causes across the UK through its prize draws, with more than £100m raised to support UK charity partners since launching in 2020.
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