Luke Littler has admitted he thought he would be facing pub players on his recent Netflix show, which was billed as giving “amateurs a chance at life-changing money”.
Broadcast live globally on the streaming platform last month, the cash was won by top women’s player Fallon Sherrock.
The format of ‘Beat Luke Littler’ saw 24 players selected to take on the world number one in a single leg of 501, hoping to win a prize of £501,000.
The 24-strong field did include low-level opponents, such as an Australian jockey, a bin man and a Nando’s manager, but anyone who was not a member of the PDC Tour was also allowed to compete.
That meant Sherrock – who became the first female player to beat a male opponent at the PDC World Championship on her way to the last 32 in December 2019 – and leading junior players Mitchell Lawrie and Zach Griffiths were also eligible.
“Before I saw the line-up, I thought it was just pub players,” said Littler, who is preparing for the Grand Slam of Darts this weekend.
“Whereas obviously when the line-up came out, I probably knew just over half of them.
“Mitchell, Zach Griffiths – I played with him on the Development Tour – obviously Fallon, Katie Sheldon and a lot more.
“I mean Fallon, she’s never had a Tour card, so she went for the qualifiers and she made it through. But then she wasn’t guaranteed to play – she went in on a vote.”
Sherrock, who has been awarded an MBE for her services to darts, made it through an audition process and then had to rely on the public to select her to take on Littler at Manchester Central.
Littler beat 14 contestants but then lost to Sherrock, who won nearest the bull to throw first and then checked out in 15 darts.
“It was a very good night overall,” Littler added. “I think from my side it was very good. From Netflix’s side, it was very good.
“I think the whole thing was probably a learning curve. For me, constantly playing back-to-back, especially in the heat, I was going off and on stage. I’m up for another one and I’m sure Netflix will be as well.
“There aren’t many people who could say they’ve got their own show, and I’ve had my own show on Netflix, which is just still bonkers to me.”