Luke Littler won’t be attending the BBC Sports Personality 2025 Awards ceremony, despite being nominated for both the main Sports Personality of the Year award and being the favourite to win back-to-back young Sports Personality of the Year awards.
The 18-year-old world darts champion kicked off his title defence in flying fashion recently, beating Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas, 3-0.
He now has over a week off due to the extended format of the new-look championships, before his potential second-round tie.
The teenage sensation’s attention is firmly on darts, as the BBC SPOTY ceremony takes place next Thursday, 18 December. Despite being nominated for the two awards, Littler has confirmed he will not be attending.
READ MORE: BBC slashes wage bill as Zoe Ball follows Lineker and Edwards out of the door
When asked if he thought he had a chance of winning the prestigious award, Littler was blunt.
“No,” Littler responded.
On whether he would be attending the awards ceremony, Littler was equally straightforward.
“I’m not going to it.”
When asked if he had informed the BBC of his decision, Littler added: “I think they know. The people in the top three of the betting odds will go.”
The current favourites for the awards are 2025 Masters golf champion Rory McIlroy, Formula One World Drivers champion Lando Norris, and Women’s EURO 2025 penalty hero Chloe Kelly.
Littler believes only these three will attend, leaving him, Lioness Hannah Hampton, and England Rugby’s Ellie Kildunne at home.
Littler insisted he isn’t bitter about not seeing himself as a contender.
Instead, he’s backing his sporting friend Norris to take the crown. The pair met and interacted several times, notably during the 2024 Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone.
“I think Lando [Norris] will win,” Littler said.
The yoing Cheshire star has produced one of the greatest seasons the sport of darts has ever seen, climbing to world number one and overtaking Luke Humphries in the process.
Despite his historic rise and staggering success, he believes the only way he’d be seen as a true contender for the BBC award is by completing a clean sweep of the PDC calendar.
He’s already captured an extraordinary six televised PDC majors this year, with only four titles slipping through his grasp: the World Masters, Premier League, World Series Finals and the European Championship (The World Cup of Darts isn’t included, as it isn’t a singles event).
“I’ve only missed out of four major this year, so if I win them, do I win it? Good luck to whoever is going to win it.”
The BBC also opened voting for the 2025 Team of the Year award this morning, with the England Women’s Football Team (Lionesses), England Women’s Rugby Union Team (Red Roses) and the European Ryder Cup Team in the running. Public voting for this year’s Team of the Year is open online now via bbc.co.uk/spoty
