A Pontyclun father-of-two who thought he was heading out for a quiet day of fly fishing received a very different kind of catch after discovering he had won a car and cash package worth £48,000.
Joseph Franklin, from Pontyclun, was on his way to go fishing when he received a surprise video call telling him he had won a new Jaecoo 7 SHS-H, worth £28,000, together with £20,000 in cash.
The South Wales winner landed the prize through BOTB’s weekly Dream Car Competition.
“No way! That is awesome,” Joseph said after being shown the car. “I’m absolutely speechless, I’ve got no words.
“I’ve never won anything, so this is amazing and means a lot.”
Surprise Win Comes At Perfect Time For Family
Joseph, who was enjoying a week off work after recently moving house, received the unexpected call from BOTB presenter Christian Williams.
Christian gave him a virtual tour of the spacious hybrid SUV before revealing that the vehicle wasn’t the only part of his prize.
Opening the boot, he unveiled an additional £20,000 cash win.
“We’ve never seen that kind of money in our bank accounts, so it’s absolutely amazing,” Joseph said.
The timing of the win is particularly welcome for Joseph and his family, who have recently moved into a new home and were also looking for a larger, more practical car.
Joseph had only recently rejoined the BOTB Pass, which automatically enters members into selected competitions. He had previously been a member but cancelled his membership for a couple of months following the house purchase.
He signed back up just two weeks before receiving the winning call.
Joseph said he had previously come close in BOTB’s Spot the Ball Competition but never expected to secure such a substantial prize.
New SUV Will Help With Family Adventures
The Jaecoo 7 proved a particularly suitable prize for Joseph, who said he and his wife needed more room now they have two daughters.
“We needed a new car, we needed an automatic, so this car stood out to me,” he said.
“With having two girls now, we want to go here, there and everywhere, including camping. We need a car that’s big enough in the back for them and that has plenty of boot space.”
The Jaecoo 7 SHS-H is a hybrid SUV combining a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a claimed 224bhp.
For Joseph, however, its practical family credentials could prove just as valuable as its performance.
£20,000 Cash Will Help Transform New Home
The family already has plenty of ideas for the accompanying £20,000 cash prize.
Having recently moved house, Joseph said some of the money could be spent on improvements to their new property – including getting professional help with the garden.
“I can definitely pay the gardener now,” he said, after previously joking that he might have to tackle the work himself.
“There’s so much we need to do, such as getting a painter and decorator in. We can also go on loads of trips out with the girls.
“I know my wife wants to go and watch the Formula One and has got her eyes set on Portugal, so we can definitely do that.”
BOTB presenter Christian Williams said Joseph’s reaction made delivering the news particularly enjoyable.
Christian said: “Joseph thought he was heading off for a quiet day of fly fishing, so I don’t think he was expecting to receive a call telling him he’d just won a brand-new car.
“His reaction was fantastic. He was genuinely speechless when he first saw the Jaecoo and kept saying he couldn’t believe what was happening, especially as he’d never won anything before.
“The Jaecoo 7 is a brilliant family car and suits Joseph perfectly. With two young girls and plans to get out and about more as a family, including camping trips, it gives them plenty of space and practicality while still being a fantastic car to drive.”
BOTB was founded in 1999 and says it has awarded prizes to more than 982,000 people, including £169 million worth of cars.
The company is also currently running a competition offering entrants the chance to win a three-bedroom London home valued at £1.25 million, with entries costing £1.
Joseph’s winning reaction and videos featuring other winners can be viewed on the BOTB website.