Few could have predicted the impact Luke Littler would have on darts when he burst onto the scene less than two years ago.
‘The Nuke’ has established himself as one of Britain’s biggest sports stars since he shot to stardom with his run to the PDC World Championship final in January 2024 as a 16-year-old.
Luke Littler became the youngest-ever world champion in darts in JanuaryAFPA record audience of more than 4.8million people tuned in as Littler missed out on glory against Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace, making it Sky Sports’ most-watched non-football event in history.
But this was just a taste of things to come, with the sport continuing to sky-rocket in popularity since then.
A 2025 study conducted by Butlin’s Minehead, which hosts the UK Open and the Players Championship Finals, revealed 35 per cent of the UK is now more interested in darts than they were two years ago – equating to more than 23 million Brits.
And it isn’t just fans who have been swept up in ‘Littlermania’, with the PDC world champion also inspiring a new generation of players.
There are currently more than 50 Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) academies across the UK, with attendances booming among providers of darts at youth level.
As the game’s popularity remains at an all-time high, talkSPORT.com took a deep dive into growth of darts in recent years, speaking to those who have witnessed this rise first-hand.
Lift off at youth level
Credit: Jane NashBilly Shanahan and Chris Dines oversee the development of future darts talent at the Shepperton Junior Darts Academy[/caption]Founded in April, Shepperton Junior Darts Academy in Surrey is one of the JDC academies to emerge from the darts boom.
Set up after local resident Jane Nash had been looking for somewhere for her teenage grandson, Toby, to play the sport with other youngsters, the academy meet once a week in the town’s sport and social club.
Volunteers Chris Dines and Billy Shanahan, who play for the club’s premiership darts team, run two weekly sessions – one for eight to 12-year-olds, and another for those aged 13-18 – providing a safe environment for young people to learn the sport.
Recalling how the academy came to be, Dines told talkSPORT.com: “Jane basically said ‘There’s nowhere for kids anywhere to actually go and play darts, there’s no youth clubs like there used to be’.
“And that was how the idea came about – she brought it to me, I had a chat with the committee here, they were happy for us to use the space.
“Myself and Bill went on accreditation day in Bristol, and from there we slowly got it going.”
After being supplied with equipment from major darts brands Winmau and Scolia, the academy found itself an instant hit.
Dines explained: “We had an open day where we had just over 30 kids arrive, so that was quite manic, but really really good fun, and myself and Bill just get such enjoyment from doing it.
Credit: Jane NashShepperton’s academy welcomes youngsters aged between eight and 18[/caption]“It’s just so good to see the kids happy, smiling, making friends and doing something they enjoy.
“And I think we’re the only one in about the whole of the M25, so it’s just a really, really good thing.”
Such is the desire among youngsters to get into darts, that Dines revealed Shepperton’s academy have had no need to promote themselves.
The 44-year-old said: “We’ve not advertised for any of this.
“This is all by word of mouth and just initial emails to people that have shown interest.”
Speaking after a session in May, Dines said: “We had an influx of about an extra five young kids tonight, an extra two on the older session.
He continued: “People are emailing us [asking]: ‘Do you have availability? Is there a waiting list?’
“That’s how it’s gone, and I think it can only get bigger and bigger as it goes on.”
Credit: Jane NashCould the next Luke Littler be in one of the UK’s JDC academies?[/caption]On the impact darts’ poster boy has had on the sport, Dines added: “Luke Littler has just done so much for the game.
“It’s got all the kids involved – watching him, seeing how he is, seeing how he’s winning, it just makes kids want to go out and do the same thing.
“So I think just to be able to give them that opportunity to play here, and do it, makes it all worthwhile.”
A professional’s verdict
GettyColin Lloyd competed on the PDC Tour between 1998 and 2015[/caption]Former darts world number one Colin Lloyd enjoyed a 17-year career at the very top of the sport, winning two major titles.
But even he admitted the growth of the sport in the years since his retirement in 2015 has been nothing short of mind-blowing.
Comparing his heyday with the current darts scene, Lloyd told talkSPORT.com: “Sometimes we were playing in front of like 800, 900 people – and that was for a major event, like the Premier League when it first ever started.
“But now, just on a Euro Tour event, it’s a ranked event. They are great events, don’t get me wrong, but they’re not majors, and you’re getting 4,000, and 5,000 people.
“You’re getting anything between 8,000 and 10,000 people throughout the day as footfall coming in to watch the darts, to go out – it’s madness really.
“When I look back on it, I do sometimes stand there and I think: ‘How did it get this big? Why has it taken off like this?’”
While Lloyd highlighted Littler as the driving force behind this rise, he was quick to point out how the youngster’s thrilling rivalry with Premier League champion Humphries, as well as other other PDC stars, has captivated fans.
He explained: “In [Eric] Bristow’s time, it was Bristow and [John] Lowe and Jocky Wilson and the likes.
GettyLuke Littler shares the spotlight with current world number one Luke Humphries[/caption]“With Phil Taylor, it was Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Rod Harrington, John Part and the likes.
“And now we’re treated to the fact that it’s the two Lukes against each other.
“I think the game’s in a very, very good place at this moment in time, not just because of those two guys, I must reiterate that, because you’ve still got the likes of Michael van Gerwen still around, you’ve still got Gerwyn Price around, Rob Cross.”
“But the fact that Luke Littler is doing what he’s doing at such a young age, that’s what I think has made people sit up and watch and listen, because he’s just naturally gifted.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘How did it get this big?’ – Inside darts revolution as Luke Littler continues to drive sport into new era )
Also on site :