Takeaway driver wins £1.3m dream home in a £1 prize draw
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Khaja Syed, struggling financially, scoops £1 million cash after BOTB delivers a dream home shock in Saffron Walden
Takeaway driver Khaja Syed has endured a difficult year, weighed down by debt and financial struggles that left him praying for a stroke of luck. That long-awaited miracle arrived in the most unexpected way — with a knock at his front door from a film crew bringing life-changing news.
The Birmingham father-of-two had entered one of BOTB’s online prize draws, hoping to scoop one of the company’s popular dream car giveaways. But when BOTB presenter Christian Williams appeared at his rented home, Khaja discovered he hadn’t won a car at all — he’d won a luxury house worth a staggering £1.3 million.
Overwhelmed, he hugged Christian as the presenter set off a glitter cannon to mark the moment, saying: "You've just made my day, man. You've just made my day."
The stunning four-bedroom property is based in Saffron Walden, an exclusive development surrounded by countryside yet close to major commuter links. Khaja and his family travelled down later that day to see the home for themselves — and to make a life-changing decision.
As with all BOTB winners, Khaja had the choice between keeping the prize or taking a tax-free £1 million cash alternative. After viewing the property, he decided the cash would make the biggest difference to his family’s future.
He told Christian: "I think, honestly, after speaking to you guys, it's quite far from our place, and I think we should go for the cash. "It'll be a life-changing moment for me, I can do it for my kids, give them what they want, I can do it for them."
Fighting back emotion, Khaja added: "This was, honestly, a life-changing moment for me."
Although he and his family currently rent their home, they won’t be moving into the Saffron Walden property — instead, Khaja plans to use his £1 million winnings to start his own business and create a brighter future for his children.
BOTB, best known for its dream car and lifestyle giveaways, is also raffling a £695,000 luxury home in Devon, with tickets priced at just 95p. Among the latest prizes up for grabs is a £59,000 Mercedes AMG GT S supercar — and tickets cost just 7p.
To find out more or view the latest competitions, click here.
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