Hampshire gran wins £1m on Heart FM breakfast show with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston
A gran from Hampshire who has just beaten cancer has won £1m on national radio
A Hampshire gran who has just overcome cancer has won £1m on a live radio competition.
Former hairdresser Joy Haythorne scooped the life-changing win this morning on Heart FM, in the Make Me a Millionaire competition run on the breakfast show with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston.
The 77-year-old was one of 10 finalists who took part in today’s live show at the studios in Leicester Square. In the final, each contestant entered The Vault and selected a sealed safety deposit box. One box contained the £1,000,000 prize, and the rest had £50,000. The boxes were independently verified, securely sealed and kept under lock and key throughout the competition, with only the independent adjudicator knowing which box contained the winning prize.
It’s been a good few days for Joy, who was told last week that she is in remission from cancer. The disease has affected Joy’s family with her husband Bill passing away following his own battle with the disease.
Joy is now planning to donate a massive sum of cash to Macmillan, Cancer Research and the Air Ambulance. Along with donating money to charity, Joy will be supporting her family and her close group of friends who have stood by and helped her through the years, saying: “I’ve got marvellous friends that came to chemo with me and everything.”
On air, Joy, from Botley, said: “Oh my days. I can’t believe that box said I'm a millionaire. I had to look six times! It is important to me to donate money to Macmillan because they helped me to help my hubby. And also to Cancer Research because without them I probably wouldn’t be here, and probably you yourself, Jamie. It is very important to me and also the Air Ambulance. None of us know when we are going to need an air ambulance and none of us know if we are going to need Macmillan.”
Heart Breakfast’s Amanda, who was born in Portsmouth and grew up in Waltham Chase, said: “Being part of Heart’s Make Me A Millionaire is always incredibly exciting because nothing compares to the moment you realise someone’s life is about to change forever. What an extraordinary morning for our winner Joy.
“To hear she’s been told she’s in remission and now has also won Heart’s Make Me A Millionaire, is such a special moment. She’s a truly deserving winner, and stories like hers are exactly what make this game so unforgettable. I’m absolutely delighted for Joy, and it’s fantastic that even the finalists who didn’t win the million-pound prize are still taking home £50,000. Sharing moments like these with our listeners is a real privilege.”
Jamie said: “What a morning! Amanda and I were absolutely delighted to celebrate with Joy as she became the UK’s newest millionaire. Knowing she’s also recently received the fantastic news that she’s in remission makes this an even more special moment for her. Heart’s Make Me A Millionaire is always full of surprises, and it’s a real privilege to be part of a show that can create memories like this.”