Grandad's jackpot

DOTING Cliftonville grandad Michael Hercock has hit the £60,000 jackpot.

He has just scooped the biggest ever payout on ITV1's Bingo Night Live.

The lucky number seven bingo ball came up on Friday, three weeks ago, making widower Michael, whose wife Esther died last year, the first jackpot winner since the programme started in June.

Model Melinda Messenger cuddled up to the 67-year-old retired London bus driver when she presented his cheque at the studio on Friday.

Although lady luck has smiled on Michael before, with a £300 lottery win and £3,000 from a football pools windfall, he does not play bingo elsewhere or gamble on horses or dogs.

In fact he only really took part in the show because sleep problems have turned him into a late-night TV viewer.

He said: "The show's on at midnight and as I don't go to bed until late, I've played more or less from the start. You play online as well and I've been down to a single final number a couple of times before.

"The jackpot had been rolling over every night and this time was the biggest ever. I was just waiting for a number seven but I was watching my computer, not the TV. I heard them announce that there were a few just viewers waiting for one number and 54 came up, but no one claimed it.

"Then they announced lucky seven and I couldn't believe it. Everything went bananas on the TV. They were shouting that Michael from Margate has won £60,000 jackpot. The screen zoomed in on the map towards Margate.

"If someone else had been waiting for number seven I would have had to share the jackpot. But I was the only one. It was amazing. I wore the carpet out pacing the room. It was like waiting outside the maternity room. I just couldn't believe I'd won."

Knowing most of his family would be asleep, Michael called his brother Colin, who also plays. Generous Michael does not plan to splurge his cash on himself, because he says he has recently bought a nearly new car, "isn't one for travelling" and "doesn't need anything". Instead it is his family that will hit the jackpot.

Sadly Michael was widowed last year and not being able to share his winnings with his beloved Esther is his only disappointment.

He said: "It does take the glitter out of it somewhat. I would love to have treated her. Still, it's going to be a good Christmas this year. I shall see my family are all right."

The grandad of six is happily planning a Christmas celebration to remember surrounded by his family: daughter Donna Parker and her husband Nick, sons Clifford and David and their wives Michelle and Jenine, plus his six grandchildren. He said: "I expect they're planning their Christmas lists now."