Joe and Jess Thwaite: who are West Country couple who won Euromillions £184 million lottery jackpot?

A couple from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire have been announced as the winners of the UK’s biggest-ever jackpot.

The exact figure both will be taking back to the West Country with them is £184,262,899.

Having decided to make their big win public knowledge, the winners are revealed to be Joe and Jess Thwaite - who celebrated at a press conference earlier today (19 May).

Here is everything you need to know about Joe and Jess - the UK’s richest ever National Lottery winners scooping up an outstanding jackpot.

Who are Joe and Jess Thwaite?

The happy couple - Joe and Jess Thwaite - will take £184 million back to their home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Married for 11 years with two children, who are both at primary school age, the pair have only recently moved into their new home.

They are animal lovers too as Mr and Mrs Thwait have three dogs, five chickens, two geckos and three ponies.

Joe, 49, works as a communications sales engineer, whilst Jess, 44,  runs the business side of a hairdressing salon with her sister.

Mr Thwait also has two children from a previous relationship, with both at university.

Ever since the passing of Jess’ father around seven years ago, the beaming jackpot winner took on the mantle of playing The National Lottery.

During the press conference in Cheltenham, Jess said: “My dad played the National Lottery all his life and constantly dreamed of winning.”

"He’d always ask us what we’d do when we won, how we’d spend it, who we’d treat. It was a regular conversation and I feel like he was preparing us."

Husband and fellow winner Joe said: “The family always asks me if I have a ticket for the big draws. While I don’t play every week, I do a Lucky Dip when there is a big jackpot. Although I don’t feel like I’ve had a lot of luck in the past."

Continuing, Jess stated "Plenty of times Joe has said to me that he’s not lucky enough and I should do it.

"I’m so glad he carried on, and while my dad had prepared me, I’m not sure anyone is really prepared for a win like this."

Close friends have said in reaction to the news that ‘it could not have happened to a nicer family’.

How did they find out they had won?

As you can imagine, the initial reaction of both Joe and Jess when they both individually found out the wallet-exploding news was pure disbelief.

Mr Thwait was the first to know of the pair’s record-breaking lottery win, finding out via his mobile after being told to check his email by The National Lottery app.

Reacting to the news that he would be £184 million richer, Joe kept picking his phone up and putting it down several times as the realisation slowly crept in.

The 49-year-old waited until Jess’ morning alarm to notify her of their rising bank balance, to which she first did not believe and carried on her normal morning routine as usual.

It was only until the couple, who were surely at the edge of their seats at this point, telephoned Camelot, who informed them of the Euromillions win at 8 am .

Both Joe and Jess are still in disbelief despite being told they have become the UK’s biggest-ever winners.

What are they going to do with the money?

Revealing all during the press conference hosted by television presenter Dermot O’Leary, the ecstatic couple were asked the question on everyone’s lips: ‘What are you going to spend all of £184,262,899 on?”

This is what they had to say:

"The win gives us time to dream which we haven’t had before,” said Jess, 44.

"We’ve had one week to think about this and we now have time to share lots of experiences and go on adventures with our family and friends.”

Mrs Thwaite said there is "so much work to do" and they currently have a "bucket in the hallway that collects the rain every time it rains".

"We’ve saved to do some building to the house and we’re waiting until it’s not as expensive” she added.

When did the Euromillions lottery take place?

Following a number of rollovers - which is when a lottery prize has not been claimed, so is added on to the next one - the mouth-watering £184 million jackpot was finally won on 10 May 2022.

What were the winning numbers?

Britain’s biggest ever Euromillions winners were revealed as Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucestershire, but what were their official winning numbers that helped them claim the spine tingling £184 million jackpot?

The winning numbers which were revealed during the 10 May Euromillions draw were: 3, 25, 27, 28 and 29 - plus the Lucky Star numbers 8 and 9.

This is the second EuroMillions jackpot won in the UK this year with £109m being won in February