We also post the Make me a Winner amount on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so you can follow us there for updates if that’s your jam.
29/04/24: £100,000
Can you still enter for free?
The Essentials
Complete Make me a Winner entries using this phone number (normally up to 20 times).
You can use the autodial number to press the buttons for you.
Make sure you have your phone and listen out for a call after 3pm.
You must answer the phone within 5 rings, and by saying ‘make me a winner’.
Participants get five seconds to speak after answering the phone. The call will probably come from a withheld number.
What is Make me a Winner?
Bauer Media’s Make me a winner is probably the biggest UK radio competition, normally running Monday to Friday. The prize amount tends to start low and ramp up – recently the prizes have been over £200,000! Listen in to Hits Radio network stations such as Hits Radio, Greatest Hits, Wave 105, KISS, or Magic FM etc, or check back here to see if the competition is active. This competition has given away over 16 million pounds in 2023!
You can enter by SMS and online (£2 plus the standard network charge) but standard phone entries are available, so put away your debit card and get calling. You can normally claim between 20 and 42 free entries for each entry window. Anyone in the UK can enter; you do not need to know the amount to win this competition, but you must answer with ‘Make me a winner’.
The network alternates between Make Me A Winner and the Cash Register competition. We will let you know at the top of the page when they swap round. That said, Make me a Winner has been running for a very long time, so who knows if they will switch back. There are also special competitions around Christmas and Easter, where you get a week to submit your entries.
Do people really win with free entries?
Yes, they absolutely do! People who only use free entries are frequently winners, and I’ve heard from several of them. You can generally submit more free entries than paid, so if you’re spending money then you should definitely be claiming the free ones too.
Plenty of people are sceptical and assume that free entries don’t win. But it’s not in the broadcaster’s interests to have contestants cry out about winning with a free entry on air. It would also be very bad news for the radio network if they were discovered to be discarding free competition entries.
If you’re wondering why they have free entries at all – it’s a legal requirement. Not doing so would make it an unlicenced (and illegal) lottery.
Make Me a Winner Rules and Entry
You must answer the phone after the lines close at 3pm, within five rings, and by saying ‘make me a winner‘. You must be within the United Kingdom to enter.
You can enter by calling 0330 880 4541, calls are probably free if your contract has inclusive minutes. The amount of free entries you can claim fluctuates, but it’s normally around 20-42. Pay-as-you-go or phone contracts without inclusive minutes may not be free, so check first! Alternatively, online entries are available at £2 each or you can text WIN to 63103, which will cost £2 plus your network charge (but why would you?).
The amount of free phone entries does seem to vary. I’ve often been able to enter 42 times, but was recently able to submit 100 entries. The number likely varies depending on the maximum number of paid entries, which can vary due to deals/offers. So keep entering until the message tells you that you’ve submitted the maximum amount.
Text entries are limited to 12 per day, and online 30 per day – if you choose the paid route.
Alternative Make Me a Winner phone numbers are 0330 880 4594 (absolute radio), 0330 880 4608 (kiss), 0330 880 4615 (magic), 0330 880 4629 (planet rock), 0330 880 4557 (greatest hits radio), 0330 880 4572, 0330 880 4563, and 0330 880 4583.
Alternative Make Me a Winner SMS/text options (£2) are WIN to 64100, 61025, 61054, 88200 or 81215; CASH or PLAY to 61054; YES to 63103; ROCK to 64100.
Can you still enter for free?
If you have a phone contract with inclusive minutes (most have free calls and texts, so check) – then you probably can. You can call 0330 880 4541 (or any of the alternative numbers above) as many times as it will let you. You’ll hear a different message once you’ve completed the maximum amount of entries.
Call the number, press 1 to skip the initial speech, then listen to the message and press 1 again when prompted. You have to press 1 after the message or your entry won’t be valid. Alternatively, use the link below which includes the auto-dial prompts and will press the numbers for you. You need only redial the number while you put your feet up in front of the telly.
It’s a bit more hassle than the old online entry, but on the flip side it probably means that less people are going to do it. That would give you a greater chance of winning!
Full competition details can be found on the official Make Me a Winner website.
Call the competition line directly below:
When can you enter Make Me a Winner?
Right after the previous entry closes. You can enter the next round 10 minutes after the previous entry window ends, right up to the 3pm close.
So you can enter Tuesday’s draw any time between 15:10 on Monday and 15:00 on Tuesday. You get a bit longer for draws occurring after a weekend or bank holiday – you can still enter over the weekend.
When does Make Me A Winner call?
Normally just after 3pm; I’ve heard that it’s often around 5-15 minutes after. The official company line is that it’s anywhere between 3 and 4 – So it’s better to be safe than sorry if your phone rings. The calls you hear on air are pre-recorded and edited before going out, which is why we hear the call fairly late.
What if I don’t pick up?
If they call and you don’t answer – you won’t win. Still, if you do have a missed call around 3pm, it’s statistically unlikely to have been the radio station; don’t beat yourself up or dwell on it! The call will probably come from a withheld number, likely so people don’t call back and realise what they’ve missed out on. Fight that urge to ignore an unknown caller after 15:00.
What if I don’t answer with ‘Make Me a Winner’?
Again, if you answer with anything other than this phrase, you will not win. Do whatever you need to do to make sure that doesn’t happen. Leave a post-it note on your phone, set an alarm reminder – anything that works for you.
I believe that the broadcasters end the call immediately if you don’t say the phrase.
I don’t know about you, but it would take me a while to get over missing out on £250,000.
What if nobody wins?
In the unfortunate case of someone not answering the phone (or worse, saying ‘hello’), there will be a rollover. The amount doesn’t double, but your previous entries carry over to the next competition window. It’s rare, but that can sometimes happen for many days in a row. People who didn’t enter on the day might not realise there was a rollover and hence ignore their phone. That can cause rollovers to keep going for some time (sometimes weeks).
You can however still enter another 32 times (or a many as they’ll allow) – so get dialling.
What happens if I win?
You’ll be a happy bunny, no doubt. You will be interviewed by the host, which will be edited for air shortly after. You’ll be asked to confirm your details, that you haven’t won any network competitions in the last six months, and you’ll probably be asked to take a selfie or record a video for promotional purposes.
You’ll also need to provide your bank details. It should be in your account either that day, or later in the week. I believe it changes from period to period.
More about the radio competition
The competition is simple, submit your entries then sit back and wait for the call. The important part to note is that you must answer the phone by saying ‘make me a winner’.
A lucky entrant will be selected and called around 3pm; the call must be answered within 5 rings and contestant must answer by saying ‘make me a winner’. So don’t leave your phone on silent and keep it nearby – it’s terrible to hear people answer with ‘hello’ and lose out.
The call normally goes out on the radio after 3.30pm. That’s because the calls aren’t live – they are recorded and edited before being released. I imagine plenty of profanities are uttered when people find out they’ve won!
It’s worth mentioning that you aren’t eligible to win the competition if you’ve won £500 or more on any of the network’s competitions. So don’t enter, win, and find out your entry is invalid!
As is often the case, you need to be 18 or over to take part in the make me a winner competition.
The competition’s terms and conditions are in addition to Bauer Media Group’s Competition General Terms & Conditions.
The competition runs across the following radio stations:
Free Radio, Gem, Greatest Hits Radio, Hallam FM, Hits Radio, Metro Radio, Pulse 1, Radio City, Rock FM, Signal 1, TFM, The Wave, Viking FM, Wave 105, Lincs FM, Pirate FM, Absolute Radio, Absolute Classic Rock, Absolute Radio 60s, Absolute Radio 70s, Absolute 80s, Absolute Radio 90s, Absolute Radio 00s, Absolute Radio 10s, Absolute Radio 20s, Absolute Radio Country, KISS Network, KISSTORY, KISS Fresh, KISS Dance, KISS Garage, KISS Bliss, Magic Radio, Magic Chilled, Mellow Magic, Magic Soul, Magic at the Movies and Magic at the Musicals, Planet Rock.
Previous winners
There have been hundreds of winners over the years. You can see some of the more recent successful entrants and listen to them receiving their phone call on the competition’s winners page.
Beware of scams
This is such a popular competition that, unfortunately, some scammers have appeared to take advantage of people. Most of these are on social media and claim to get you extra free entries.
Don’t enter your personal details on anything other than the official competition website. If you have in the past and you get a phone call, remember that you would never be asked for your bank card number.
Table of contents
The Essentials
What is Make me a Winner?
Rules and Entry
Can you still enter for free?
Do people really win with free entries?
When can I enter Make me a Winner
When does make me Winner call?
What if I don’t pick up the call?
What if I don’t answer with ‘Make me a Winner’?
What if nobody wins?
What happens if I win?
More About the Competition
Previous winners
Beware of scams
We try our best to make sure that the information listed here is accurate, but can take no responsibility if it is incorrect (we’re only human).
I thought the 100k was the end, but it’s 101 next week!
Indeed; it’s not over yet. 🙂
I have had 61054 texting me saying the competition is open but when I go online it says its nit. Have I been entering a competition that is closed or is it actually open?
Hi Jessica, which website are you going to? The competition window opens again shortly after 3:10pm.
I tried to enter from a landline as I get 700 minutes per month so it would cost me nothing but when I rang the number it said to try again from a mobile. As I’m on pay as you go, this method would cost me.
Hi Daniel; I don’t have a landline to test, but is your phone number withheld? If so, I recall being able to dial 1470 before the phone number so that it wasn’t withheld.
Hi Daniel, no, you can’t enter from a landline, only a mobile number. I also tried, but the message said I can’t.
Sorry can I still win if I am overseas?
Hi Karl, the phone call needs to be made from a valid UK number.
Anyone else started getting random “Sorry, you did not press a valid number” even though I’m pressing 1 at the correct time?
I’m sure that’s against competition rules 🙄
Yup, it looks like their systems are having problems at the moment. The numbers aren’t recognised half the time.
When it’s competition open and closed? Thanks
The competition went live again today. Entries close at 3pm, but open again for the next day at 3:10pm.
Hi, does anyone know the approximate odds of winning Make Me A Winner? I havn’t been able to find this out anywhere…
Unfortunately without knowing the number of entries, there’s no way to know. A lot higher than the lottery, though!
It’s difficult to believe that rollovers continue for days, sometimes weeks – how can people not answer their phones correctly shortly after 3pm if or when they are expecting a competition call? Is it just one call per day made to a randomly chosen number?
The longer a rollover goes on, the more likely it is to happen. People don’t realise there’s a rollover and if they don’t enter the next day, they aren’t expecting a call.
One call to a random number unless there’s a guaranteed winner – then they keep calling different numbers.
Also you can only enter from a valid mobile apparently.
I tried entering from my house phone and it wouldnt let me
Alas yes, it’s mobile only unfortunately. Probably for the best if you need to head out; less likely to miss the call.
Why is it a lot of people winning from England more than Scotland
England has ten times the population, so I guess statistically it is just far more likely.
I heard on “Greatest Hits” station last week that there had been 5 winners during that week, but in that case, wouldn’t the rollover amount go back and start again? It’s been on a rise for weeks now, and it’s difficult to believe that during those rise weeks, not one person has answered their phone correctly – believable or no?
The rollover term is a bit misleading. The money goes up regardless; the only thing that rolls over are the entries.
If there’s no winner on Wednesday, your entries are still in the draw on Thursday.
And what if there’s no winner on the Thursday that you mention previously, do all the entries then rollover to Friday, and so on? If that’s the case, then by the time an amount of say, £250K is reached, there would be hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of rollover entries? Still find it difficult to believe that for that length of time, not one person daily has answered their phone correctly. Statisically, that’s highly unlikely.
A lot of people think that way, but there aren’t that many rollovers. Cash prize doesn’t reset when it’s won, but all existing entries disappear.
I think the longest rollover I’ve seen is three weeks. If you don’t enter every day then there’s an increasing chance of answering up the phone incorrectly.
Seems to be 21 free entries now
Cheers! I will update the page. 🙂
My limit is now 20 calls max! At the 21st call, the response is that I’ve reached the max number of entries for this competition. Howcome also the prize money has now leapt to £100000 today, from £52000 yesterday or thereabouts?
Yup, they’ve reduced the maximum. It’s probably a good thing, most of the entries are probably free, and it’s a lot less effort now.
I suppose they want to keep people on their toes with the amount. Made a bit more sense with the Cash Register though!
I suppose it could also be that far less people enter with smaller amounts.
The money has now reduced to £70,000 – seems like it’s up and down at will – can’t make any sense of it!
@FOC – The autodial feature is great…I wasn’t aware of that, thank you.
Yup, it’s something I only discovered a little while ago – very handy. 🙂