Luke Littler has admitted he expected to face casual pub players on his recent Netflix show, which was billed as offering amateurs a chance at life-changing prize money.
Surprise Field of Competitors
The global broadcasted show titled ‘Beat Luke Littler’ featured 24 players taking on the world number one in a single leg of 501 with a prize of £501,000 on the line. The final cash prize was ultimately won by top women’s player Fallon Sherrock.
While the line-up included low-level opponents such as an Australian jockey, a bin man, and a Nando’s manager, the rules allowed anyone who was not a current member of the PDC Tour to compete. Consequently, elite competitors like Sherrock—who famously became the first female player to defeat a male opponent at the PDC World Championship in December 2019—alongside leading junior players Mitchell Lawrie and Zach Griffiths, were also eligible.
Speaking as he prepares for the Grand Slam of Darts, Littler told BBC Sport that he anticipated encountering solely pub players before reviewing the official roster. He recognized slightly over half of the participants when the line-up was revealed, noting he had previously played against Zach Griffiths on the Development Tour and acknowledged other seasoned names like Katie Sheldon.
Audition Process and Event Outcome
Fallon Sherrock, who holds an MBE for her services to darts, secured her spot by passing an audition process and subsequently winning a public vote to face Littler at Manchester Central. Although Littler successfully defeated 14 contestants during the event, he ultimately lost to Sherrock after she won the nearest the bull throw to go first and completed a 15-dart checkout.
Reflecting on the experience, Littler described the overall evening as very successful for both himself and Netflix, calling the continuous back-to-back matches in the heat a strong learning curve. He expressed enthusiasm for participating in a potential follow-up project and remarked that having his own Netflix show still feels bonkers to him.
