Fallon Sherrock Beats World Champion Luke Littler in Netflix Live Show in Manchester to Win £501,000

Fallon Sherrock beat world darts champion Luke Littler in a single leg at Netflix's live programme Beat Luke Littler in Manchester. At the packed event at Manchester Central arena on Friday evening, any of the 20 amateur challengers who managed to beat Littler in a single leg stood to win £501,000. Sherrock was the 15th challenger to face him.

The programme was Netflix's first UK live entertainment event, hosted by Gary Lineker and Richard Osman. Littler comfortably beat a range of contestants of differing abilities who had queued up to take part in heats during the summer, including 14-year-olds Mackinley Cooper-Johnson and Jayden Walker.

It took about two and a half hours for Littler to lose. Cheered on by enthusiastic crowds in fancy dress, one contender came close to claiming the prize, former Irish youth darts player Pearse Mackle. But in the end Littler lost to the 15th contender, Sherrock, to the shock of the crowd.

There had been controversy when it was revealed earlier this month that Sherrock was competing. She has an MBE for services to darts, has played at the PDC World Darts Championship and won the inaugural Women's World Matchplay in 2022, and some people claimed she was not a true amateur. Netflix classed anyone who has never had a PDC tour card as eligible to take part.

After her win, which was greeted by huge cheers from the audience and a hug from her young son, Sherrock told Lineker she could not put into words how much it meant. She said she was really lost for words, that it was a great moment, and that given an opportunity she would take it every time. She said she was really proud of herself.

Magnanimous loser Littler said Sherrock had been world class. He said he had enjoyed every bit of it and everything leading up to it, and suggested Netflix might do it again next year.

Netflix had put in place contingency plans to have a second place competition should Littler lose within the first few rounds, as it had no idea when or whether he would be beaten. Sources said audience numbers stayed steady despite competition from the final of BBC's Celebrity Traitors, with viewers able to vote for the order the players appeared in, and appeared to rise after the end of the BBC show.

The show was dreamed up by Manchester-based production company Workerbee. Its managing director, Michelle Chappell, said its chief executive Rick Murray came up with the idea of someone taking on Luke Littler. She described it as a sport event but a big show at the same time, with a sense of humour and real jeopardy. The report compared it with similar events pitting ordinary people against the elite, such as the Million Dollar 1 Point Slam at the Australian Open tennis tournament.