LUKE LITTLER will compete with Jude Bellingham and Keely Hodgkinson for the affection of the British public after being shortlisted for the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The teen sensation is the youngest of six contenders for the prestigious TV award, which has been presented annually since 1954.
The Nuke will compete against Real Madrid's Champions League winner Bellingham, Olympic 800m gold medalist Hodgkinson, record-breaking cricketer Joe Root, Paralympic cycling champion Dame Sarah Storey and triathlete Alex Yee.
Littler, 17, has been rightly recognized for his exceptional achievements in his first year as a darts professional.
The Warrington star reached the final of the PDC World Championship on January 3 – beating 7-4 by Luke Humphries at Ally Pally – and went on to become Premier League champions in May after a stunning nine-dart finish.
Littler – who has raked in more than £1million in prize money by 2024 – has won a total of 10 titles and has thrilled the nation with his stellar performances, despite only leaving school last year.
If Littler receives the most votes on the night of Tuesday, December 17 – and Hodgkinson is the bookmakers' favorite – he would be the second-youngest winner in the event's history.
The youngest recipient was 17-year-old Scottish swimmer Ian Black, who won in 1958 ahead of footballers Bobby Charlton and Nat Lofthouse.
Littler turns 18 next month and is the favorite for this year's World Championship, which starts on Sunday.
He could even have double success on the night as he is also shortlisted for the Young Sports Personality of the Year category.
Phil Taylor finished second behind jockey Tony McCoy at SPOTY 2010 but has told Littler he should consider skipping the night and staying at home so he can fully concentrate on winning the Sid Waddell Trophy in the new year.
Football has produced seven top prize winners, including Paul Gascoigne, Michael Owen, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
Bellingham helped Madrid win the LaLiga title and the Champions League at Wembley, scoring an impressive 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season at the Bernabeu.
Although England lost the European Championship final to Spain in Berlin, the 21-year-old scored twice in the competition, including an incredible bicycle kick in the 2-1 Last 16 victory over Slovakia.
Hodgkinson, 22, became the 10th British woman to claim an Olympic title in athletics when she stormed to victory in two rounds at the Stade de France.
Root, 33, made history in style when he surpassed Alastair Cook's milestone of 12,472 runs to become England's top scorer in Test cricket with a career-best 262 against Pakistan in October.
Mother-of-two Storey, 47, is Britain's greatest Paralympian and added two more gold medals to her impressive collection when she won the C4-C5 road race and the road time trial in Paris.
And Yee, 26, enjoyed a stunning 2024, being crowned both Olympic and world champion.
Most surprisingly, the shortlist has been limited to six people for the seventh year in a row – rather than being expanded due to it being an Olympic and Paralympic year.
That doesn't include cycling hero Mark Cavendish, who retired after winning a record 35th Tour de France stage.
Cyclist Tom Pidcock and trampolinist Bryony Page – both Olympic champions – have also been rejected as organizers kept the list to a small list.
And swimmer Poppy Maskill, 19, would consider herself unlucky if she was not nominated after winning five medals at the Paralympic Games, including three golds.
Clare Balding, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will present the show live on BBC One, but Gary Lineker has stepped down as host after 23 years in the role.
The jury consisted of 12 people – former athletes, broadcasters, journalists and BBC executives – including retired cyclist Laura Kenny and ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
Other awards to be presented on the evening include World Sport Star of the Year, the Helen Rollason Award, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lioness goalkeeper Mary Earps took home the coveted title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.
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