Trending

This broken glass jigsaw is guaranteed to keep you busy during lockdown

The Manc The Manc - 7th May 2020
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_PanelImage_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_PanelText_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_PanelText_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]
[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_PanelText_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget]

Trending

The stats behind World Darts Champion Luke Littler’s brilliant year (and a bit) are quite staggering

Danny Jones Danny Jones Luke Littler stats 2025 World Darts Championship

Yes, he’s done it: the still-teenaged Luke Littler is officially a World Darts Champion and although we all saw it coming, the stats behind his meteoric rise are, frankly, ridiculous.

As if becoming the youngest-ever player to ever win the 2025 PDC World Darts Championships at just 17 wasn’t impressive enough, his pathway, previous victories and numerous accolades leading up to this point really put things into perspective.

Oddly enough, he almost seemed destined to get his hands on the trophy the moment he fell just short in last year’s final against current world number one Luke Humphries.

Here are the numbers to prove it:

As put together by Sporting Life journalist Chris Hammer, when the already long list of achievements in just his first year and a bit as a professional on the senior circuit is laid out in front of you like that, it really does feel like it was always going to happen, doesn’t it?

ADVERTISEMENT

But this doesn’t even quite tell the full story.

Even before he won his first PDC title on the pro tour at the Bahrain Masters back in January, the Warrington-born teen had already won the senior Irish Open back in 2021 when he was just 14. Let us repeat that: 14 years old.

ADVERTISEMENT

Going back even further, he’s been dominating the youth circuit for some time too – most notably becoming the first player in JDC (Junior Darts Corporation) history to win back-to-back World Championship titles in 2022 and ’23.

The trend of consecutive successes has only increased as time has gone on and now the youngster has won a trio of darts majors with a Grand Slam, World Series and Premier League title, not to mention two Masters tournaments and a pair of PDC Opens, winning the rest feels like a mere certainty.

The consistency behind his stats and level of averages alone are rather frightening and as the cherry on top of the Sid Waddell Trophy, Luke Littler also won the win the Ballon D’Art trophy after hitting 79 maximums – though Michael Smith does still hold the record for most 180s in a tournament (83).

Not to play on anyone’s inferiority complex here or force them to look back at what they were up to at his age either but, as detailed above, Littler‘s first-place prize of £500,000 has just seen him rack up more than £1.5 million in total earnings over the past 13 months since his pro debut.

But it doesn’t stop there…

As per The Telegraph, top players in the sport typically earn around £350,000 a year in shirt sales and other merchandising opportunities; he also stands to earn even more away from the board than he already does from personal dart sets once he turns 18 and betting sponsors inevitably come knocking.

With no exaggeration whatsoever, Littler’s stats haven’t just seen him win a lot of titles and money in a relatively short space of time but he’s helped kick off a whole new generation-spanning darting renaissance and love for the arrows.

You can watch the highlights from Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship win over veteran and fellow serial winner, Michael van Gerwen, down below.

Here’s how he did it.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)

Trending

Gavin and Stacey Christmas special on course to break UK TV viewing figures record

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gavin and Stacey Christmas special breaks record for UK TV viewing figures

Gavin and Stacey is set to break yet another TV record as this year’s Christmas special and definitive series finale has become one of the UK’s most-watched scripted shows ever.

The iconic British comedy returned after a long hiatus to finally conclude the series with its first new episode in five years.

Delighting die-hard fans and comedy fans in general all over the country, millions tuned in to watch the last-ever Gavin and Stacey chapter – over 19 million, in fact.

With 12.3m watching the finale on Christmas Day alone and even more in the week following, the tally has now reached approximately 19.3m and counting.

Not only did this smash their own previous record of more than 18m set by the last Christmas special back in 2019 but it is well on course to cruise past the 20m mark when the official seven-day viewing figures are released, which is standard practice for assessing final ratings and viewing figures in the UK.

Almost a quarter of the viewers who helped achieve the feat were aged 16-34 as well, making it the largest young audience ever, according to the BBC.

The emotional reunion of the beloved cast looks set to see them surpass Coronation Street‘s record of 19.4m set in 2003 and could even see them beat the legendary British sitcom, Only Fools & Horses, which saw 21.3m viewers gather around the box for their 2001 Christmas day episode.

So, although the BBC states that it is the “most-watched scripted show across all broadcasters and streamers since current records began in 2002”, it still technically has a little way to go in order to match/surpass the biggest-ever tally.

That being said, when factoring in the stats from all live views and digital streams, the final numbers should see them over the line.

Regardless of whatever seven or indeed 28-day figure they end up on, co-creators, writers and stars James Corden and Ruth Jones have been blown away by the success of the one-off comeback.

Writing by way of recognition and as a thank you to the fans, they said: “We are completely overwhelmed by the audience response to our show and to these astonishing viewing figures.

“Gavin & Stacey really does belong to the audience and we are beyond thrilled that so many people enjoyed watching it this Christmas. A huge thank you to Charlotte Moore and the BBC for backing us these past 17 years.”

The ratings and overall reaction to the show have also been overwhelmingly positive, with millions tearing up over the long-awaited storyline – even if some of those watching pointed out one little problem…

Viewers find just ONE flaw with ‘perfect’ Gavin and Stacey finale
It got five stars pretty much across the board.

Read more:

Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer, went on to add: “The numbers are truly outstanding, unprecedented even! It’s the show the entire nation has been talking about over the last week so it’s no surprise that it’s not only smashed its own record but has become the UK’s biggest scripted show.

“Ruth and James’ creation is a true homegrown success story, and their finale is a comedy masterpiece. It’s made us laugh and cry together in a way that only Gavin & Stacey can.”

The final viewership for the 2024 special will be published on Monday, 6 January and take into account viewings across all platforms up to Thursday, 2 Jan – they already look destined for another entry in the history books.

What did you make of the finale – did it live up to the hype and, more importantly, where does it rank in terms of the best British Christmas TV specials of all time?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC

More Trending

Ex-Man City player now new President of Georgia

News

A former Manchester City player has been sworn in as the new president of Georgia

The lyrics to New Year's Eve song Auld Lang Syne

Audio

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means

Bolton

How and where to recycle your Christmas tree in Greater Manchester 2024

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches