At just 17, darts champ Luke Littler has won the respect, admiraton and adulation of the UK public.
Luke recently clinched the title of youngest winner of the PDC World Darts Championship, stunning fans with a 7-3 win against darts legend Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace. However true to his teen years, Luke kept his celebrations humble with a low-key family lunch in London with mum Lisa, 40 and dad Anthony, 43.
Also said to be in attendance was his glamourous older sister Caitlin, 22, who is gaining her own following, boasting over 27,000 TikTok fans.
Luke was born on 21 January 2007 in Runcorn, Cheshire to taxi driver Anthony Buckley and mum Lisa Littler, a shopworker. His darts playing began as a 18-month-old baby when his dad Anthony bought him a magnetic dart board. His proud mum Lisa released a video of her baby son throwing darts while in nappies.
It wasn’t long before his dad, who was a casual darts player, was taking his young son to the pub for more practice. But darts wasnt the only sport that Luke showed an aptitude for. Dad Anthony told The Times: “He was a good footballer. He loved football. All kids do. But I said to him at nine, hang your boots up.
Littler’s parents Anthony and Lisa
“Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there’s a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first. Make that your priority, because I thought he could make it at darts — and he has done.”
“When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was OK with it. We put him in every competition that was online. Sometimes you’re getting up at 7am on a Saturday — my only day off — just to play darts. There were no lie-ins.”
Luke Littler’s glamorous older sister Caitlin
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At nine years old Luke began training at the famous St Helens Darts Shop. Around this time, Luke’s family which includes Caitlin and brothers Harry and Leon, moved to nearby Warrington.
Here Luke attended Padgate Academy, forrmely known as Padgate Community School – the same school as BBC Radio 2 radio DJ Chris Evans and former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona.
While juggling maths and science lessons, by the age of 11, little Luke was playing against grown men and beating them. His dad has always been his biggest fan but to some onlookers his tough love approach to training his youngest was a little “too tough.”
Luke has been playing darts since he was little
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Darts player Nathan Aspinall was ranked in the world’s Top 20 when he and a then 12 year old Luke battled each other at a Chester tournament, Nathan won.
He said in The Sun: “I remember seeing his dad with him and he was dead critical of him because he’d lost. I was thinking mate, he’s 12, and I was in the top 16 in the world at that time. I said ‘Give him a break’. His dad said: ‘No, he needs to learn’. That hard talk over the years has probably produced one of the best players in our sport.”
When Luke, known as ‘The Nuke’, beat Matt Campbell to reach the last 16 in the 2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, he said: “I started crying when I saw my mum in the crowd. She was nervous. I saw her with her head in her hands. I said to her: ‘The dream continues.’ She said the same thing.”
According to one Warrington takeaway shop owner, the secret to Luke’s success is his love of kebabs. Sihad Baba owns Hot Spot, Luke’s favourite takeaway and says he’s been coming to the shop since he was 11. And he always order the same thing – a doner with extra meat, salad and mayo with chips washed down with a Pepsi
Sihad told The Mirror: “It’s his special and he has it every time. Often, he orders through Just Eat but sometimes he comes in with his dad and they might order garlic bread cheese as an extra. I’ve known Luke since Year 7. He’d never cause trouble at school. He has never changed, no matter what success he had. He’s a lovely bloke.”
Hot Spot takeaway in Warrington.
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After Luke’s triumph in reaching the World Darts Championship final in 2023, his ecstatic sister Caitlin posted on social media: “Can’t even begin to put into words how proud I am of you Luke, we all love you so much and cannot wait to see what else you can achieve. You are amazing and this is just the start, Woww running out of words, so proud.”
And when Luke bagged the Premier League title, she couldn’t contain her excitement, taking to Facebook to express: “I actually have no words, what a birthday present! Proudest sister ever. Everyone’s probably getting bored of me sharing posts about Luke but I can’t stop he’s just too good.”,
Luke enjoying his favourite takeaway meal
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Caitlin has been tipped by experts to become a well-known influencer if she decides to venture into reality TV. Speaking to The Sun, culture and branding expert Nick Ede suggested that Caitlin could help make the Littlers the “Next Furys”, emulating Tyson and Paris Fury whose family life was showcased in the popular Netflix series At Home With The Furys.
Nick commented: “The girls have all the elements of becoming classic reality TV stars like Paris Fury and Molly Mae. I can see a reality show on the life of Luke… He’s only young so he will need support from a good team but the world is his oyster.”
Luke and his sister Caitlin
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Luke and Caitlin also have two brothers, Harry and Leon, who recently turned 21. After Luke’s latest win, Leon joked to The Sun that he’ll “have to help his brother on the celebrating – as Luke won’t be legally allowed to drink until January 21 when he turns 18.
Leon quipped: “Can’t do much with him, can you! He’s 17. He’ll go out, chill on his game, maybe order some food. I’ll do the celebrating for him! “.
As well as family backing, Luke The Nuke was previously supported by his former girlfriend, 21 year old Eloise Milburn, until their split last summer. Despite their breakup over text, which reportedly left Luke “upset”, he and Eloise who is also a darts player remain firm friends.