SOMEONE somewhere will be thanking their 'lucky Heather' after West Devon's Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell was the star guest of the National Lottery draw show on Saturday.

Modern pentathlete Heather from Merrivale, pressed the button live on BBC television to start the Dream Number, Lotto and Thunderball draws, helping someone win a life-changing amount of money at the touch of her fingers.

The draw was filmed at a studio in Hertfordshire on the programme introduced by Kirsty Gallacher.

Heather told the Times she really enjoyed the experience: 'It was really exciting to go up there and do the programme. I did a dress rehearsal beforehand with Kirsty Gallacher, who was really lovely.

'The hardest part was where to look, especially when Kirsty was talking to camera, and not to look at the autocue or myself on the monitor.

'The whole experience was great and it was very professionally done but the studios themselves were surprisingly small — not what you think when you see it on television.

'I had a lot of friends asking me to pick their numbers,' said Heather, 'but there wasn't much I could do! I hope though that my appearance will make more people aware of the World Championships at Crystal Palace at the weekend.'

A glamourous looking Heather was grateful to Purple Penguins of Tavistock for lending her a ring and matching bracelet and earrings, for the special occasion.

All the Good Causes money raised from sales of Dream Number and certain specially designated scratchcards and all online Instant Win Games goes towards London 2012 — giving lottery players the chance to 'Be Part of It'.  The National Lottery is contributing up to £2.2-billion to the funding of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. 

Heather, who won Olympic silver in modern pentathlon at Beijing, will be competing at the World Championships at Crystal Palace on August 15 and 16, which received lottery funding as part of the UK Sport's World Class Events programme. 

National Lottery players have raised more than £3-billion for British sport, helping support projects at both grass-roots and elite level.