‘I never dreamt it in a million years’ – bus driver wins £77k BMW for 21p
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Sunderland bus driver Kevin Topping could not believe his luck after winning a £77k BMW M3 Touring in a 21p prize draw
A bus driver from Sunderland had to fight back tears after hearing he'd won a £77,000 BMW after spending just 21p on a prize draw ticket.
Money had been tight for Kevin Topping, as he was nearing retirement and his wife had had her hours reduced at work - but he didn't expect a film crew to turn up and turn his life around.
Kevin had just polished off a morning shift on his route for Go North East when a presenter from prize draw firm BOTB, Katie Knight, gave him a knock on the door.
"I'm very happy to say, that for just 21p, you have won yourself an M3 Touring”, she said.
Kevin's face dropped as he caught sight of the bright orange BMW parked down the road, and the enormity of his prize set in.
"You're kidding? Wow," he choked, lifting his glasses to wipe away tears. It's amazing, I just didn't think I would win anything.
"I'm just overjoyed at the fact that I've won something. And not just something, but it's an amazing car.
"I just didn't think for one minute this would ever come to me. I never dreamt it in a million years."
Kevin's new car is a top-spec BMW M3 Touring, a super-estate with more than 500bhp and a 0-60 time of just 3.6 seconds.
And although he was smitten with the car, reality set in as Katie reminded him that all BOTB winners are offered a cash alternative instead of the dream car.
"Have you ever thought what you might do with the cash alternative?" Katie asked.
Kevin said: "I'm due to get my first pension this year, and we've always dreamed of getting a home abroad and retiring somewhere.
"But the problem my wife has at work at the moment is they've changed her hours, so we're going through a bit of a rough patch.
"I've said to her, just pack in. You don't need to work, just pack in. I'll do a few more shifts at work. And this will make one hell of a difference."
Kevin's win was one of several prize draws BOTB carries out every week, and prizes include cash, holidays, dream cars, and even a house.
This month's big prize is an £830,000 dream home in Essex, which can be won for £1. There's also a draw running for a Porsche 911 Convertible, with tickets costing just seven pence.
To find out more about the competitions and draws, or to buy a ticket, click here.
If you’ve ever broken down and had no idea how to explain where you are, the AA app quietly fixes that. It can share your exact GPS location with a patrol so they know where to head without a long phone call. The rest of the app is straightforward, with traffic updates 🚦, fuel and charger info ⛽, and service reminders 🔧. Membership starts from £5.49 a month, though the exact price varies depending on your details.
Check your personalised quote here,
Allica Bank is changing how UK businesses make their money work harder. Its Business Rewards Account offers high interest on idle cash and up to 1.5% cashback on everyday spending - without the need for risky investments or complex setups. With a fully digital platform, seamless integration with Sage or Xero, and dedicated relationship managers, it’s a smarter way to manage your funds and boost your bottom line.