Omaze winner not announced after privacy concerns

The winner of a £6m mansion offered as a raffle prize was not announced on live TV due to privacy concerns.

The property in Blakeney, Norfolk, has been part of an Omaze competition which has been at the centre of an investigation which found the property breached planning rules.

Running in partnership with Comic Relief, the winner was expected to be revealed during the BBC's Comic Relief programming on Friday.

A BBC spokesperson said: "It was decided that it was best that Omaze announce the winner this week rather than it happening live on air, to protect the winner's privacy after receiving such a significant prize."

Omaze has said the winner will instead be announced this week.

North Norfolk District Council began investigating the three-bedroom property after an anonymous member of the public raised concerns earlier this month, saying it had not been built to the approved designs.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the member of the public noticed the floor plans and photographs on the company's marketing materials appeared different to the plans approved in 2020.

The council said "no formal action will be taken while the matter is being actively progressed".

It has given the company a series of recommendations detailing what it needs to do to remedy the issues which has been set by the end of Wednesday.

Omaze said the prize draw had managed to raise more than £4m for Comic Relief.

An Omaze spokesman said: "We are working with North Norfolk District Council regarding recommendations made as a result of the recent investigation into the property in Norfolk.

"Omaze will submit responses by the required deadline.

"Omaze reiterates that it guarantees no house winner would ever have to incur any costs whatsoever to remedy any historical planning issue."

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