A wife who ignored her husband’s advice to stop entering the Omaze draw hasn’t stopped smirking since she won them a £4.5million home.

She proclaimed in glee: ‘This is precisely why I never listen to my husband.’

Nicola Dickinson, 59, became an instant multi-millionaire after winning the spectacular home in the Lake District – which even has its own private lake.

She bought her winning entry for just £25 as part of her Omaze subscription and had been entering draws for four years. 

After the win, she revealed her husband of 38 years Martyn, 58, repeatedly told her she would ‘never win in a million years’ – advice she is now very glad she ‘ignored’.

Nicola was at her home in Swindon, Wiltshire, with her granddaughter when Omaze contacted her about her winnings.

The house comes with more than £150,000 worth of furnishings, is mortgage-free and has all stamp duty and legal fees covered.

She’s also been given £250,000 in cash to help settle in and can choose whether she wants to live in the house or rent it out for supplementary income.

She also has the option to sell up whenever she wishes to become a cash multi-millionaire.

An ecstatic Nicola said: ‘The day we found out I’d won, I was at home, looking after my granddaughter and doing a spot of boring housework – nothing exciting at all. It was just a very ordinary day, or so I thought.

‘When I got the call from Omaze, I honestly didn’t think it was real. I put the phone down and said to my husband, “That was Omaze, apparently I’ve won something, but it can’t be real.”

‘I thought well I’ll go and see what all the fuss is about anyway, I put my boots and coat on, then thought, “No, this is silly” – took them straight back off again and went to put the kettle on.

‘Then they called back and said they were outside, so on went the boots again! I was thinking best case scenario I may have won £1,000 – which would’ve been lovely! Winning a house never crossed my mind.

‘But the next thing I know, Omaze is telling me I’ve won a £4.5million house – and I just couldn’t get my head around it. We celebrated with lots of bubbles over the weekend. Dry Jan never stood a chance.

‘I’ve been entering for four years. Martyn has been moaning at me to stop – but I liked that even if I didn’t win, I was supporting amazing charities. But winning has shown this is precisely why I never listen to him, and thank goodness I didn’t – we’re multi-millionaires now.

‘We’d actually been talking that very morning about downsizing soon to try and keep on top of our outgoings – but now we’ve upsized – massively. It’s a funny old world.’

According to local estate agents, the property could have an estimated value at £4,000 per month if it is rented out long-term.

She added: ‘Martyn was joking that he’s a little disappointed he didn’t win the Porsche 911 – but I’ve reminded him that if he plays his cards right, I can afford to buy him one now, so he shouldn’t be too upset!

‘My husband was actually worrying that morning that we’d spent too much on the card at Christmas – if I’d have known I was going to win an Omaze house, I’d have spent twice as much!

‘It’s January – the longest month of the year – and we’re usually the sort of people who get to the end of the month and say, “Phew, we made it”. This changes that completely, it’s obviously the best January ever.’

On the impact the win will have on her family, she said: ‘We’ve worked hard our whole lives, not just for ourselves but for our family, and this win really does change everything for all of us.

‘We’re looking forward to further supporting our children and grandchildren, to help give them the best possible start in life – the win feels like a generational legacy for our family.

‘We don’t know exactly what we’re going to do long-term yet, but what we do know is that definitely we’re going to come up and enjoy it together, spend time here with family and friends whilst making memories we never imagined we’d be able to.

‘Thanks to the £250,000 in cash, if we decide to keep the house, we could afford to run it for many years – it’s incredible to have that option.

‘If we decide not to live at the house full-time, we’ve got fantastic choices – we can rent it out for extra income or sell it after a while and bank the cash – having that flexibility is just wonderful.

‘This win has taken so much pressure off us financially. It gives us security, stability and peace of mind in a way we’d never even dreamed of.

‘My husband has spent most of his career travelling around Europe for work, and now his retirement is going to look very different – for the first time, we can actually think about slowing down and enjoying life together. I turn 60 in May, so I think my birthday plans have gone up a notch now!’

The couple have lived in the same home in Swindon for the last 30 years and have three adult children and three grandchildren.

Nicola retired from HR work in 2019 and now cares for her granddaughter and relatives.

Her husband Martyn is a Sales Director for a self-storage construction company and for the last 20 years travels to Europe three times a week for work.

A woodland driveway leads to Nicola’s tranquil property, which opens into a striking double-height entrance hall with a floating staircase and slate-clad feature walls. The open-plan main living space is filled with natural light and features floor-to-ceiling windows, a reading nook, a banquet-style dining area and panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside.

The designer kitchen includes handcrafted Swedish cabinetry, a bespoke breakfast nook, a walk-in pantry and Miele appliances throughout, as well as a Quooker tap – a feature Nicola says Martyn has always wanted. French doors open onto a covered patio area, ideal for when the couple are entertaining and dining al fresco.

Upstairs, the luxurious main bedroom features a freestanding bath overlooking the lake and forest beyond, alongside an en suite bathroom and dressing area. Four further double en suite bedrooms provide space for family and friends.

One of the property’s standout features is its very own private lake, complete with a wooden jetty and a lakeside wellness area including a sauna, hot tub and outdoor shower. The house also includes a gym, utility and boot room, electric car charger, solar panels and garages.

Omaze has also partnered with the RSPCA, the UK’s leading animal welfare charity and has donated £1 million from the Omaze Community.

The funds will go towards rehabilitation work, providing neglected and abused animals with the specialist care they need to heal and find a better future.

Jo Rowland, RSPCA Chief Executive, said: ‘This is a brilliant way to start the year with an incredible £1 million donation from the Omaze Community. It will help the RSPCA to continue its vital work in rehabilitating hundreds of animals rescued from unimaginable cruelty and neglect.

James Oakes, President of Omaze, said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted that Nicola has won this incredible Lake District home, while also helping to raise crucial funds for the RSPCA.

‘This is a truly special property in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, and the win gives Nicola and her family some fantastic options for the future. Whatever they decide to do, it will be completely life-changing for her and her family.

‘Omaze offers people the chance to win extraordinary prizes – while also raising vital funds and awareness for charities doing extraordinary work. Thanks to the generosity of the Omaze Community, we’ve now raised over £100 million for good causes across the UK.’

The for-profit entertainment company is now pledging more than £40 million a year for UK charities through a series of independent philanthropic grants, to help create long-term meaningful impacts across the country.