ITV bosses are reportedly considering bringing darts game show Bullseye back to TV screens after Luke Littler captivated the nation back to the sport, it is claimed.
Darts hero Luke, 16, finished second at the 2024 World Darts Championship after world number 1 Luke Humphries powered past him in the match this week.
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Luke – but 4.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the game, a performance that made Sky Sports' championship final the most-watched non-football event of all time.
And it has been reported that TV bigwigs are hoping to capitalize on the sport's popularity by bringing back iconic 80s game show Bullseye with Paddy McGuiness as a potential host.
The show was made famous by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995, before being revived on Challenge TV in 2006 when it was hosted by comedian Dave Spikey.
ITV bosses are reportedly considering bringing darts game show Bullseye back to TV screens after Luke Littler recaptured the sport, it is claimed (Jim Bowen hosted Bullseye in 1984) .
It has been reported that TV bigwigs are hoping to capitalize on the sport's popularity and bring back the iconic 80s game show Bullseye, with Paddy McGuiness as a potential host (pictured by Paddy last month).
A source told The Sun: “ITV is already in discussions about the return of Bullseye after this year's final recorded the event's highest viewership in history.”
“It’s early days but ITV believes it could be hugely successful.”
“There are even plans to bring back the speedboat grand prize – even if participants live in a landlocked location, which was often the case in Bullseye’s heyday.”
“They think Paddy, with his Lancashire roots like Jim, would be the perfect host.”
Web has contacted ITV for comment.
This comes after 16-year-old Luke Littler finished second in the 2024 World Darts Championship after world number one Luke Humphries passed him in play this week and teenage sensation Luke caught the attention of the Darts during the tournament had drawn the attention of the nation.
Even though Luke didn't win, 4.8 million viewers tuned in to watch the game. This made the championship final the most watched non-football event of all time on Sky Sports.
Luke's meteoric rise to fame has reportedly already sparked a bidding war for the rights to adapt the film after he became the youngest ever World Darts Championship finalist at Alexandra Palace.
The show was made famous by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995 (Jim was pictured on the show in the 80s).
It was revived on Challenge TV in 2006 when hosted by comedian Dave Spikey (pictured).
Boxing star Anthony Joshua's production company is said to have submitted a multimillion-pound bid for permission to adapt Luke's story after millions watched his thrilling final against Luke Humphries on Wednesday.
Littler, now ranked among the top 32 darts players in the world, went head-to-head with world number one Humphries as the youngest ever PDC World Darts Championship finalist, losing 7-4 after he had beaten other players with more lifetime experience.
Joshua's production company, SBX Studios, is said to be eyeing a biopic and Sky Sports confirmed it is producing a behind-the-scenes documentary like no other from this year's darts championship.
A source told The Sun about Joshua's rumored interest in Littler: “There is a real fight to buy the film rights for Luke and his team have received plenty of offers.”
“Anthony’s production company put one on the table yesterday and are keen to get Luke on board.”
“As an athlete, Anthony has watched Luke's incredible rise and finds his story incredibly inspiring. “He would love the chance to help tell it and feels their offer is one of the best Luke can get.”
According to its website, SBX Studios has produced content for brands such as Hugo Boss, Lucozade, Under Armor and Turkish Airlines, as well as online sports platform DAZN and boxing promoter Matchroom.
Content has also been created for characters like Raheem Sterling and Mo Farah, as well as Joshua himself – but a project like adapting Littler to the big screen would likely be the biggest yet.
Film executives will be keen to capitalize on Littler's fame while it's still fresh, amid a resurgence in mainstream interest in darts not seen since Phil “The Power” Taylor.
It comes after 16-year-old Luke Littler (pictured) finished second in the 2024 World Darts Championship after world number one Luke Humphries powered past him in the match this week and teenage sensation Luke caught the nation's attention drew tournament
Millions watched the 16-year-old take on Humphries, giving Sky Sports its biggest non-football audience ever
It doesn't hurt that the 16-year-old's life story has all the ingredients of a good biopic, from his humble roots in Warrington to the young love that blossoms between the teenager and 21-year-old beautician Eloise Milburn.
His arrival on the world stage came after years of conquering the junior leagues with the support of his parents, who introduced him to darts from the moment he could walk and encouraged him to develop his potential on the oche.
And each adaptation would follow a series of other “alternative” sports biographies based on a true story in recent years.
These include films such as “The Phantom of the Open,” based on the exploits of Maurice Flitcroft, the “worst golfer in the world,” and “Gran Turismo,” based on racing driver Jann Mardenborough, who began his career driving on his PlayStation .
Luke is reportedly at the center of an intense bidding war for the rights to film his life story with boxer Anthony Joshua. Production company SBX Studios has reportedly made an offer (Anthony, right, pictured last month).