Jersey mechanic wins £1.15m dream home after forgetting he’d entered competition

A Jersey mechanic who still lives with his mum has started the year on a high after discovering he had won a £1.15 million dream home - despite completely forgetting he had entered the draw.

Ryan Larkin, 38, was taking a break at work when he received the surprise of a lifetime from Best of the Best (BOTB) presenter Christian Williams, who revealed he had won the company’s latest Dream Home Competition.

“That’s unbelievable and insane,” Mr Larkin said. “I’m absolutely speechless. This is life-changing.

“I still live with my mum because I can’t afford to move out. I’d been sharing a flat with a friend, but it became too expensive and I had to move back home.”

The competition entry cost just £1. Although Mr Larkin regularly plays BOTB draws, he said he had no idea he was in the running for the house prize.

“It’s a bit of a ritual - buy a few tickets and hope for the best,” he said. “I usually enter the dream car competition and had completely forgotten I’d bought tickets for the house draw.

“I’m not usually a lucky person, but this has changed everything. I have no worries now.”

The prize was a four-bedroom Georgian-style home just under a mile from Bath city centre. However, Mr Larkin has opted for the £850,000 cash alternative so he can buy property closer to home.

“The house is stunning, but my life and job are in Jersey,” he said. “To get a three-bedroom place here you need at least £100,000 just for a deposit, so the cash makes more sense.”

Alongside plans to finally move onto the property ladder, Mr Larkin said he hopes to upgrade his car after driving the same Peugeot 307 for around a decade. He also plans to restore a classic car he already owns and treat his family to a trip to Disneyland.

News of the win spread quickly across the island.

“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said. “Jersey’s such a small place — it feels like everyone knows.”

As for breaking the news at home, he joked: “I think my mum will be pleased — and not pleased. She’s very used to having me around.”

Christian Williams said Mr Larkin’s reaction showed just how quickly lives can change.

“He plays every week for fun, forgot he’d entered, and suddenly he’s won an incredible prize,” he said. “This gives him the freedom to take the next step in his life.”