A lotta laughs but Lotto stars shun limelight

“IT’S me! It’s me!” A thousand would-be comedians were having the time of their lives filing past National Lottery headquarters trying to catch the attention of the waiting cameras.

Unfortunately, for those with stars in their eyes, the photographers weren’t on the lookout for the next big thing in stand-up — they were hoping in vain for an appearance by the country’s newest Lotto multimillionaires who had decided, yesterday at least, there would be no show.

From before the front doors of the office opened at 9am to locking-up time at 5.30pm, every car, taxi, bike, bus and, by mid-afternoon, wheelbarrow that passed within 50 yards of Lotto HQ was scrutinised for any half sign of a small pink slip with an ecstatic human attached.