Luke Littler address darts hype train that has taken him back to Bullseye as Ryan Meikle eyes upset
Bullseye boy Luke Littler is ready to explode onto the Ally Pally stage on a wave of hype.
But barber Ryan Meikle believes a win over Gary Anderson proves he can cut The Nuke down and show him what he could have won. Littler’s explosion will hit home on Saturday night with a sell-out arena and millions tuning in to watch on TV. The 17-year-old’s meteoric rise sparked ITV into bringing back Bullseye and he’ll be on Sunday's Christmas Special with Freddie Flintoff. Littler smiled: “I was glad to be the first one on it. Hopefully it went really well and the viewers can see it and make a new series out of it. My parents watched it. Hopefully they can make a brand new series.”
But Meikle hopes to be rolling out the speedboat to the sad music. The Ipswich crimper had to deal with a game against Fallon Sherrock in round one, but it's now off the charts in terms of interest. Meikle sank Anderson at last month’s Players Championship and said: “It was massive. That was the confidence and belief that I needed.”
On the Little hype train, he continued: “I have never had as much media attention in my life. It is not because of who I am. Everyone is talking about Luke. I have been working since the draw came out. All people keep saying is: You have got Luke Littler.
“What he has done for darts is ridiculous. People who I never thought would talk about darts have done so. I feel lucky to play him. I am a massive fan. What he did. The way he talks. I think he is unbelievable. I cannot give him enough credit.”
Littler looked sharp with haircut as he won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year this week and Meikle laughed: “I honestly get a lot of messages, did you bring your clippers? I think Luke must have a good barber somewhere. Maybe one on speed dial. He has probably got one here!”
Meikle is also steering clear of the Peter Wright job as he added: “To be fair, Jo does his hair, being a hairdresser, she always does a good job. I always have a little look. It’s not easy doing a Mohican like that. I don’t want to take her job. We are sleepy down in Suffolk. Not cut anyone’s haircut!
“I will be back to work on the 3rd of January. If I beat Littler then and have a good run, maybe not. Barbering takes my mind off things a lot. I won’t say I will give up. I worked last Monday before coming here. It takes my mind off something.
“It’s a bit of income, a bit more support. We go away a lot. It’s not always guaranteed income, especially if you play people you have never heard of and lose in the first round. It is not something I am willing to give up without having a big run.
“I am quite level headed. Consistency is the big thing for me. A lot of people have taken interest. It surprises me how many people do watch it on ITV and Sky Sports, people who I never thought would watch it. The darts is so popular.
“What Luke has done for the game, people say to me: Are you not sick of hearing about him? No. The more we talk about him, the more sponsors we bring him, fingers crossed it means the more money we are making. I will never say a bad word about him.
“I don’t look at it that he is 17 years old, I just think how good he is. No pressure on me. I will give it a good go and see what happens.”
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