A veteran of the fire service has seen his fortunes dramatically transformed after winning a luxury car and a substantial cash prize in an online competition.
A Life-Changing Doorstep Delivery
Graham Owen, a 61-year-old from Cheltenham, was enjoying a simple sandwich at home when his day took an extraordinary turn. BOTB presenter Christian Williams arrived on his doorstep to reveal that Graham had won a top-of-the-range BMW X5 xDrive30d M-Sport alongside a bundle of tax-free cash. The total prize package was valued at close to £120,000.
The retired fireman, who served for over seven years in the Army before joining the fire service in 1990, was led down his street to find the gleaming SUV parked up. Hidden inside was an astonishing £40,000 in cash. "It's fantastic," Graham said. "It's a real pinch-me moment. You enter with hope, but you never expect it to actually happen."
A Prize Following a Difficult Period
The remarkable win came at a poignant time for Graham and his family. The surprise reveal occurred just 24 hours after he and his wife had attended a memorial service for a loved one, marking the end of a challenging six-month period.
BOTB presenter Christian Williams noted the significance of the timing, saying, "After a really difficult day remembering a loved one, being able to surprise Graham with this prize 24 hours later and put a smile on his face was fantastic."
Dream Cars and Future Plans
An admitted fan of BMWs, Graham confessed that while he had always dreamed of owning an Aston Martin DBX, the running costs were prohibitive. The powerful and refined BMW X5 now represents a perfect and more realistic dream car for him.
When asked about his plans for the cash windfall, Graham revealed intentions to treat his wife and enjoy a series of short breaks in his new vehicle. His itinerary includes touring Scotland and enjoying a long weekend in Padstow, Cornwall.
Fellow BOTB presenter Katie Knight observed, "Once it sank in, you could see just how much this meant to Graham. The X5 suits him perfectly, and we loved being part of his special moment."
BOTB, which runs weekly dream car giveaways, currently has a BMW M5 Competition worth £60,000 on offer, with tickets costing just 8p. Their biggest ongoing prize is a £1.15 million townhouse in Bath, with tickets priced at £1.
