IT was once a sport watched by working-class lads and lasses who enjoyed a pint.
But now you are likely to find royals, politicians and Premiership footballers among the crowds at darts’ biggest tournaments.
From the sensational World Championships to ITV’s reboot of Bullseye, the sport has enjoyed a spectacular comeback this year.
And now a new Sky documentary Game Of Throws: Inside Darts goes behind the scenes to reveal what it takes for players like teen sensation Luke Littler to make it.
Legendary sports impresario Barry Hearn, 76, is proud of the sports newfound popularity: “This is a major industry now, but we have had to put up with people looking down their noses at us.
“Over the centuries we have had, in Britain, a class structure, which means that we ‘know our place’ and I never bought into that.
“We have transformed that now. Members of the Royal Family sit down to watch the darts.
“We have MPs and Premiership footballers begging us for tickets to sit down next to a docker or a newsagent or a dustman.
“It’s exactly the world that I wanted, but the leaders of the world are the players. Without the players we don’t have anything. And they’ve not let us down.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved. We create heroes and players that come from the same working-class areas that I came from.
“They can achieve their dreams and change their lives, which is the essence of what sport is about.”
Luke’s rise to the top is a classic story of a working-class lad done good.
The 17-year-old, who was virtually unknown this time last year, is on his way to becoming a millionaire after winning £900,000 in prize money.
The Warrington lad, nicknamed The Nuke, grabbed the nation’s attention when he reached the final of last year’s World Darts Championship.
While he lost to Luke Humphries, the sold-out match at Alexandra Palace, North London, was watched by 4.8million people worldwide.
It is a far cry from the Eighties when players were known for heavy drinking while they played and John Thomas “Jocky” Wilson and Eric Bristow dominated the game.
Cockney five-times world champion Eric, who said darts saved him from a life of crime, later boasted of three-day benders.
Despite the sport now grabbing the attention of A-listers and Princess Catherine, who had a go on a visit to Birmingham last year, Barry still considers darts to be The People’s Game.
He said: “You’re with your mates, you’re having a little bit of liquid refreshment.
“Most importantly, you’re going to leave with a smile on your face.”
This is a major industry now, but we have had to put up with people looking down their noses at us
Barry Hearn
There was certainly plenty of revelry captured on camera at the World Championships.
Sky’s new documentary features footage from the final on January 3, as thousands of fans in an incredible array of fancy dress, necked jugs of lager, sang, danced and cheered.
And Luke “The Nuke” Litter has a starring role. He is filmed as he prepares for the first round in the World Championships.
He says: “I just let my darts go, and I just enjoy it, because I know my opponent is nowhere near me.
“I don’t really feel pressure, though I obviously get nervous because it is a big occasion, it’s the biggest tournament of the year.”
He adds: “I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m just playing my darts and I want to win another game. You’ve just got to put the hard work in to get to where you want to be.”
Luke has yet to adopt the hellraiser lifestyle that comes with fame and tournament winnings.
He chooses to live at home with his parents, Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler, sister Caitlin and their French bulldog in Cheshire.
But as referee Russ Bray reveals in the film, out later this week, Luke transforms when he is in front of thousands of people, all chanting his name.
Russ said: “He’s a quiet lad off the oche. He’d rather be on his PlayStation or his phone. But once he gets up on the stage, he is a totally different animal.”
It is no surprise given the kind of pep talks he gets from his manager Martin Foulds, who doesn’t pull any punches.
In the documentary, he is heard telling Luke: “You go out there to win, you don’t go up there to try, you go up there to win. Trying is for losers.”
Despite Martin’s efforts, Luke says he has his parents, particularly his taxi driver dad, to thank for getting him to where he is today.
He says: “My dad’s done so much for me, funding me with petrol, hotels, paying my entry fees whatever I’m playing in and taking time off to come with me.”
Anthony is seen proudly pulling boxes of medals and trophies out from under Luke’s bed and remarking: “That’s just the junior tournaments.”
