So when an assignment came in from the National Lottery asking for a volunteer to live the life of a millionaire for the day, I jumped at the chance. It's a hard life but someone's got to do it.

My itineray for the day was simple — be wined, dined, pampered and thoroughly spoilt — I could deal with that. Plus I would get to spend a couple of hours with Seaford millionaires, Samantha Lange and Malcolm Russell who won the Lottery in 1999.

My day began in style with my very own Mercedes and chauffeur arriving to collect me. Andrew Thomson runs Platinum Cars from his home in Ratton and is everything you would expect from a chauffeur - opening doors, ferrying people from one executive meeting to the next and waiting.

I was getting quite used to the luxury of a Mercedes when I was given a test drive in the new SLK Class 200, dubbed the small silver arrow, courtesy of Eastbourne Mercedes.

Now every millionaire needs a flash pad to live in and our next port of call was The Sandcastle, a beautiful seaside villa with spectacular views on the beach at Pevensey Bay, currently on the market with a £1.3 million price tag.

The detached five bedroom property, which has been used as a private home and a small hotel, has its own built in sound system, a sauna and wet room, a studio along with the obligatory swimming pool. Very luxurious and I could see myself living there quite happily - should I ever win the lottery.

The dream of winning the lottery came true for Samantha and Malcolm who bought a winning ticket back in May 1999 and won £1.5 million.

I caught up with them over an indulgent lunch at the Mirabelle Restaurant at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

The couple live in Seaford and Samantha bought the ticket as she rushed to work at the petrol station in Sainsburys at Newhaven.

The couple had just returned from a £9.50 holiday at Pontins run by a national newspaper and Samantha almost didn't buy a ticket as she was late for work.

But fortunately she did and the couple hit the jackpot when all six of her lucky numbers, which she had been using since the UK's first National Lottery draw, came up.

Malcolm phoned her at work after spotting her numbers - 1, 12, 24, 31, 33 and 47, based on family birthdays and a house number - on the television.

The jubilant couple vowed the win would not change them and they still live in the same house with their son, Dale and five-year-old Shuria.

There have been some changes - they extended their home, replaced their old cars with Audis, flew first class to see Samantha's father in New Zealand and bought a cottage in France.

But Samantha, pregnant with their third child, says the family try to live as "normal" a life as possible, swimming at the local leisure centre, taking advantage of last-minute holiday deals and shopping at the local supermarket.

"The win has meant we haven't had to work and have got more time to spend with the kids, which is brilliant," said Samantha. We can also have all the little luxuries we would not have otherwise had.

"We just try to keep in touch with reality. And I'm careful with
money. It'sgot to last a long time. People say if they ever win the
lottery, they would do this or buy that, but when it happens to you,
you don't. It takes a while for it all to sink in."

Malcolm was working at Parker Pen in Newhaven at the time of their win but gave up work soon after, as did Samantha, and now the couple spend their time at their home in Seaford and at their cottage in France.

As you would expect from such a down to earth couple, lunch at the Mirabelle isn't on the agenda everyday for Samantha and Russell. But I could get quite used to it.

The restaurant has gained an enviable reputation featuring in many fine dining guides year on year and the food, champagne and red wine were superb.

Its surroundings are so comfortable I literally had to drag myself away for my final appointment - a bit of rest and relaxation and a much-needed facial by Julie, a beauty therapist in the Grand's leisure club.

An hour later and it's time to return to the real world and my trusty chauffeur is waiting outside to take me back to the office and reality. It was wonderful to get an insight into how the rich and famous spend their days.

So, to quote - and answer - that famous question posed in the renowned song, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? I guess it would be an I Do!