Page 3 Profile: Dianne Thompson, Camelot CEO

Dianne Thompson, Camelot CEO (Rex)

It could be you...

Probably not, though. Nevertheless, Dianne Thompson, the chief executive of Camelot, the National Lottery company, has shared her tips on what to do if ever you do manage to win big.

Quit my job and buy all my friends an island each?

That’s certainly tempting but Ms Thompson, who has been at the helm of Camelot for 14 years, during which time the organisation has helped to make at least 3,500 millionaires, has counselled against any impulsive behaviour which might possibly see you start chucking your new-found wealth about

Uh oh, I think that yacht might have been non-refundable…

“The first piece of advice is to take time,” she told The Sunday Telegraph. “Don’t make any promises to start with. It’s all too easy to say ‘I’ll give some to you and some to you…’ If you can, we advise that you go away for a few days or a couple of weeks, just to get used to the idea.”

I suppose I could handle a fortnight in the Seychelles.

Ms Thompson, who is retiring to run a hotel on the Isle of Wight, also recommended that winners seek financial and legal advice and be aware that they must pay tax on the interest they earn. Then, she said: “Be as generous as you can.”

Champagne all round?

Actually, she was talking about helping those in need. Only about one in five of those who scoop the jackpot go public so Ms Thompson isn’t legally permitted to say what many winners spend their money on, but she did reveal: “The amount that goes to charities is phenomenal.”