Luke Littler is set to get big-money TV deals ‘thrown at him’ following his £500,000 World Darts Championship victory.
The 17-year-old was crowned the king of the sport after beating Van Gerwen, a three-time winner, 7-3 in the final at Alexandra Palace on Friday.
The Warrington-born wonderkid became the youngest ever winner of the competition and scooped up the Sid Waddell Trophy and a whopping £500,000 cash prize.
The darts sensation also appeared alongside former cricketer Andrew Flintoff on the Christmas special of the iconic TV show Bullseye.
The show raked in nearly three-and-a-half million viewers on December 22, while the repeat got another 2.6million.
The Sun reported ITV bosses were said to be impressed by Littler’s appearance, while fans of the shows took to social media to demand more.
A TV insider told the newspaper: ‘Luke will be getting deals thrown at him from all quarters, but ITV are confident that he’ll be tempted. This deal could turn him from being a darts star into a bona fide TV star.’
One viewer wrote on social media: ‘This already deserves a new series commissioned.
Luke Littler (right) appeared alongside Andrew Flintoff on the Christmas special of the iconic TV show Bullseye on December 22
Luke Littler kisses the trophy after beating Michael van Gerwen at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London
Sources claim Littler will get big-money TV deals ‘thrown at him’ following his £500,000 World Darts Championship victory
‘They haven’t messed with the original format whatsoever and it shows.
‘Flintoff absolutely class too. Get it sorted ASAP please ITV.’
Another said: ‘Loved the Bullseye reboot. Freddie Flintoff is a great presenter and as handsome as ever.’
The format of the show sees one amateur darts player and a trivia expert go head-to-head against another team to win prizes.
Ahead of the broadcast, Freddie said he’s delighted to be on board in bringing back one of the best loved shows of the 80s and 90s back to ITV1 and ITVX, for a very exciting one-off episode.
The sporting icon said: ‘I love the darts and Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid.
‘Can’t quite believe I’ll get to host this Christmas special. You can’t beat a bit of Bully!’
TV critics commented on the rapport between Littler and Flintoff, as the Ashes star joked that getting a bullseye would be his ‘finest sporting achievement’.
Littler played against Flintoff in the Christmas special of the iconic TV show Bullseye – as people have now demanded a full series of the reboot
Littler celebrates with the Sid Waddell trophy after his historic win at the Alexandra Palace
Littler celebrates after winning the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship final against Michael van Gerwen
TV critics commented on the rapport between Littler and Flintoff, as the Ashes star joked that getting a bullseye would be his ‘finest sporting achievement’
It comes as Littler achieved his darting dream on Friday by becoming the youngest winner of the World Darts Championship.
Littler averaged a little over 102 and threw 12 180s in an imperious display in London.
A clinical 56 per cent on the doubles saw him pepper the outer ring to devastating effect, leaving his Dutch opponent trailing in his wake.
His destiny was realised after he pinned D16, leading Littler to let out a roar. The tears then started to flow as he made his way to the side of the stage, in front of his family.
Littler’s career has been a meteoric rise since his run to the final at the World Championship last year, and he won 10 titles on his maiden year on the circuit.
‘I can’t believe it. We both played so well,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘I’ve said in interviews that I needed to get off to a quick start tonight and that’s what I did. But he was behind me the whole game, those cover shots – he’d hit two trebles and I’d have to come back with two or three.
‘Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy. You’ve got to get through a tough field.
‘I can’t believe it. I keep saying it but that first game against Ryan Meikle was the one that really mattered, and throughout I’ve just settled.
‘At 2-0 up [in the final set] I started getting nervous but I said to myself to just relax. I was throwing for the match and to get it over and done with then was special.’
On what the rest of the year could hold for him, Littler added: ‘Anything. I could end 2025 winning absolutely nothing, but I’ve picked up the best [prize].
‘I want to get more than 10 titles this year, but if I end 2025 with nothing, I’ve picked the big one up.’
