CONGRATULATIONS to Nicola Otterburn, who has scooped the lottery jackpot. Her response has followed well-established winners' protocol: in the first, excited moments she phoned a loved one - her dad in Helmsley who, in time-honoured tradition, told her to calm down. Then she had the win confirmed. Finally, she announced that the money would not change her life.

We hope Nicola enjoys her fantastic prize. Meanwhile, we await the day when a lottery winner insists that becoming a millionaire actually will change their life. We thought that was the whole point of playing.

Updated: 10:29 Tuesday, December 04, 2001