The rollercoaster life of James Corrigan - once the wealthy darling of the showbiz world - has taken another extraordinary twist.

LITTLE TREASURES: James Corrigan with his children, Marilyse, 15, and Wesley, 13

Picture: Garry Atkinson

James, who founded the Batley Variety Club and rubbed shoulders there with countless international stars from Louis Armstrong to Roy Orbison, has been living for years in York in financially straitened circumstances.

At one stage he sold Roman coins at a street stall in High Ousegate and then Indian brassware in the market,, and he lives in a tiny city centre flat.

A couple of years ago he was successfully treated for cancer, but has since had numerous spells in hospital being treated for after-effects which mean he cannot eat solid food.

But now, out of the blue, he has been given an enormous boost with news that his former wife Elaine, who lives near Bridlington in East Yorkshire, has won £2.5 million on the National Lottery.

And she has promised him that, from now on, any of his financial needs will be catered for. She says she wants to ensure he does not miss out after all he has done for her in the past.

Not that James, 73, hankers after a return to the tycoon lifestyle that once gave him a Rolls Royce and a 27-room house with housekeeping and gardening staff. "I've been there, done that," he said.

"I don't need any money. I don't smoke and I don't eat. I watch TV and the kids come and stay with me."

Two of his children, Marilyse, 15, and Wesley, 13, who have been staying with James over the weekend, told how they discovered their mum had won the National Lottery.

They were watching the TV lottery show on Saturday, May 1, when a £20 million rollover jackpot was shared by eight people. Wesley was noting down the numbers on the TV show on May 1, and Marilyse was checking them off against the tickets.

Marilyse, who has since been out shopping for new clothes, realised first that they had three numbers, worth £10, then four, five and six. "I was really shocked. I shouted "We've won the lottery!" She didn't believe me."

James said he didn't believe it either when Elaine rang him with the good news. "I thought she was kidding at first and it was a wind-up."

He said that he gets on well with and keeps in regular contact with the former top model.

Born in a travelling fairground, James survived three years on the lethal Atlantic convoys during the war, returned to the fairs, emigrated for a couple of years to Canada, returned to Britain to build up a chain of bingo halls, including ones at Pocklington, Filey and Pickering. Then he built and ran the Batley Variety Club, a showbiz mecca where he counted Neil Sedaka, Shirley Bassey, Frankie Vaughan and Eartha Kitt among his famous friends. He was even featured on TV's This Is Your Life. But the club hit hard times, the champagne dried up, and James quit showbiz and sold his mansion.

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