Phil Taylor explains why Luke Littler should NOT attend Sports Personality of the Year awards
Luke Littler should avoid going to the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards. That’s the view of record 16-time darts world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, who thinks the 17-year-old needs to stay focused on the PDC World Darts Championship. Taylor has offered Littler some adviceGetty Premier League Darts and Grand Slam champion Littler is among the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award this month. Joining talkSPORT Drive, Taylor brought up a story circulating that he told Littler not to go to the BBC’s flagship sport award ceremony is on December 17, two days after the start of the Alexandra Palace tournament. However, Littler’s first match of the tournament isn’t scheduled to take place until Saturday December 21, meaning he’d be available for SPOTY. Taylor clarified he never gave the teenager such advice – but went on to say that he would say exactly that if asked if he should attend or not. “I would advise him not to go on it,” he said. “I’ll be honest. Look there’s half a million pound on the table. I wouldn’t do anything, you know what I mean. “I’d just do a video and say thank you very much if I win and focus. Half a million pound? But it isn’t just the half a million pound, it’s the publicity you’ll get, which he doesn’t need at the minute, and it’s also your spin-offs. “So that half a million quid could turn into £2million.” Drive host Andy Goldstein agreed, saying: “And also I sort of feel there’s a huge weight around his neck on that first world title because everyone expects, everyone talks about it.” “The first round for everybody is going to be a dodgy one,” Taylor said. “It always is. Also with the world championships, it’s not just – football will be the same – you know you come into the middle of winter. “There’s all kinds of bugs flying about and illnesses and flus and whatever. “Make sure you don’t get laid up. We call it laid up in Stoke. Make sure you don’t get any you know, catch any colds or flus or whatever so that can knock you back.” Taylor thinks Littler should lay low this monthGetty Before leaving the studio, Taylor was asked for his winner for next month’s world championships. “I’m going to go for Luke Littler,” he smiled. Littler will be looking to go one step further than his debut at Ally Pally last year when this year’s edition begins. After an electric run to the final, he was defeated by Luke Humphries. Since then, he’s won ten titles during 2024 and landed four perfect legs. He’s also risen to fourth on the PDC Order of Merit. And to think he’s not 18 until mid-January. Littler has been nominated alongside sporting stars Jude Bellingham, Joe Root, Keely Hodgkinson, Sarah Storey, and Alex Yee. He has also been nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award too. “This is MADDDD,” Littler said on Instagram at the news of his selection. “First young sports personality and now sports personality of the year…huge thank you to BBC Sport for nominating me. “Never thought I would be saying that.”
Luke Littler should avoid going to the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards.
That’s the view of record 16-time darts world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, who thinks the 17-year-old needs to stay focused on the PDC World Darts Championship.
Premier League Darts and Grand Slam champion Littler is among the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award this month.
Joining talkSPORT Drive, Taylor brought up a story circulating that he told Littler not to go to the BBC’s flagship sport award ceremony is on December 17, two days after the start of the Alexandra Palace tournament.
However, Littler’s first match of the tournament isn’t scheduled to take place until Saturday December 21, meaning he’d be available for SPOTY.
Taylor clarified he never gave the teenager such advice – but went on to say that he would say exactly that if asked if he should attend or not.
“I would advise him not to go on it,” he said. “I’ll be honest. Look there’s half a million pound on the table. I wouldn’t do anything, you know what I mean.
“I’d just do a video and say thank you very much if I win and focus. Half a million pound? But it isn’t just the half a million pound, it’s the publicity you’ll get, which he doesn’t need at the minute, and it’s also your spin-offs.
“So that half a million quid could turn into £2million.”
Drive host Andy Goldstein agreed, saying: “And also I sort of feel there’s a huge weight around his neck on that first world title because everyone expects, everyone talks about it.”
“The first round for everybody is going to be a dodgy one,” Taylor said. “It always is. Also with the world championships, it’s not just – football will be the same – you know you come into the middle of winter.
“There’s all kinds of bugs flying about and illnesses and flus and whatever.
“Make sure you don’t get laid up. We call it laid up in Stoke. Make sure you don’t get any you know, catch any colds or flus or whatever so that can knock you back.”
Before leaving the studio, Taylor was asked for his winner for next month’s world championships.
“I’m going to go for Luke Littler,” he smiled.
Littler will be looking to go one step further than his debut at Ally Pally last year when this year’s edition begins.
After an electric run to the final, he was defeated by Luke Humphries.
Since then, he’s won ten titles during 2024 and landed four perfect legs.
He’s also risen to fourth on the PDC Order of Merit.
And to think he’s not 18 until mid-January.
Littler has been nominated alongside sporting stars Jude Bellingham, Joe Root, Keely Hodgkinson, Sarah Storey, and Alex Yee.
He has also been nominated for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award too.
“This is MADDDD,” Littler said on Instagram at the news of his selection.
“First young sports personality and now sports personality of the year…huge thank you to BBC Sport for nominating me.
“Never thought I would be saying that.”
