LUKE LITTLER will vie 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 the six contenders” for the prestigious TV award, which has been running annually since 1954.
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The Nuke will be up against Real Madrid’s Champions League winner Bellingham, Olympic 800 metres gold medallist Hodgkinson, record-breaking cricketer Joe Root, Paralympic cycling champion Dame Sarah Storey and triathlete Alex Yee.
Littler, 17, has been deservedly recognised for his exceptional exploits in his first year as a darts professional.
The Warrington ace made it to the PDC World Championship final on January 3 – he was defeated 7-4 by Luke Humphries at Ally Pally – and then became Premier League champion in May following a superb nine-dart leg.
Littler – who has banked more than £1million in prize money throughout 2024 – has won 10 titles in total and thrilled crowds across the country with his outstanding displays despite leaving school only last year.
If Littler receives the most votes on the night of Tuesday December 17 – and Hodgkinson is the bookies’ favourite – he would be the second-youngest winner in the event’s history.
The youngest recipient was 17-year-old Scottish swimmer Ian Black, who was victorious in 1958 ahead of footballers Bobby Charlton and Nat Lofthouse.
Littler turns 18 next month and is the fave 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.
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Phil Taylor was second behind jockey Tony McCoy at SPOTY 2010 but has told Littler he should consider skipping the night and staying at home so can fully focus on trying to win the Sid Waddell Trophy in the New Year.
Football has provided seven winners of the main award, including Paul Gascoigne, Michael Owen, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
BBC SPOTY 2024 CONTENDERS
Here are the runners and riders in with a shot of ultimate glory…
Luke Littler – Darts
Jude Bellingham – Football
Keely Hodgkinson – Athletics
Joe Root – Cricket
Dame Sarah Storey – Paralympic cycling
Alex Yee – Triathlon
Bellingham helped Madrid win the LaLiga title and the Champions League at Wembley, contributing a remarkable 23 goals across all competitions in his debut season at the Bernabeu.
Though 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 win over Slovakia.
Hodgkinson, 22, became the tenth British woman to claim an Olympic title in athletics as she stormed to glory over two laps at the Stade de France.
Root, 33, made history in style as he surpassed Alastair Cook’s mark of 12,472 runs to become England’s leading scorer in Test cricket with a career best 262 against Pakistan in October.
Mum-of-two Storey, 47, is Britain’s greatest Paralympian and added two more gold medals to her impressive collection as she won cycling’s C4-C5 road race and C5 road time trial in Paris.
And Yee, 26, enjoyed a stunning 2024 in which he was crowned both Olympic and world champion.
What is most surprising is that the shortlist has been confined to six people for the seventh year running – rather than be expanded because it is an Olympic and Paralympic year.
It does not include the likes of cycling hero Mark Cavendish, who retired after winning a record 35th Tour de France stage.
Road cyclist Tom Pidcock and trampolinist Bryony Page – who are both Olympic champions – have also been snubbed as organisers kept it to a small list.
And swimmer Poppy Maskill, 19, would consider herself unlucky not to be nominated after winning five medals at the Paralympics, 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 judging panel consisted of 12 people – former sportspeople, broadcasters, journalists and BBC executives – and included retired cyclist Laura Kenny and ex-Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.
Other awards presented on the night are 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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