Netflix has unveiled a new live darts competition called Beat Luke Littler, offering one amateur the chance to win £501,000 by beating world number one Luke Littler in a single leg of 501. The show will air live on the streaming platform on October 30, with Gary Lineker hosting and Richard Osman serving as expert analyst.
How the competition works
The format pits 20 amateur competitors against the 19-year-old champion, who will play 20 separate legs against the 20 different opponents. Each qualifier needs only one successful leg to beat him and claim the prize.
A nationwide search for the 20 competitors has opened, with regional heats scheduled in Manchester and London in September.
Lineker and Osman on board
The show marks Lineker's return to live sport following his departure from the BBC last year. In a statement, he said: "I am delighted to be deepening my relationship with Netflix after such a brilliant experience with The Rest Is Football at the World Cup, and Beat Luke Littler feels like exactly the kind of unpredictable, live event television that gets me excited – I cannot wait to see who fancies their chances."
Osman, who will take on a role similar to his work on Pointless, said: "As a huge darts fan, and proud owner of a signed photo of Jocky Wilson, I couldn’t be more excited to join the amazing Beat Luke Littler live show. He’s the greatest player in the world. But 20 legs in a row? I honestly think someone is going to win that £501k. It’s going to be an incredible night."
Littler's record and fan reaction
Littler became the youngest world champion in the sport's history at 17. A two-time PDC player of the year, he was recently named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list. He has won every PDC major staged so far this year, according to dartsnews.com, retaining both the World Championship and World Matchplay, with his Blackpool title coming with a record-breaking 111.04 tournament average.
He teased to Netflix's Tudum: "Everyone thinks they can beat me. Now they get a chance to prove it." Fans have shared reactions on X, formerly Twitter, with one joking: "That classic darts expert… Richard Osman." Another quipped: "So Lineker buys a dartboard for the Rest Is Football studio and is now hosting darts shows? Come on."
To watch Beat Luke Littler, viewers need an active Netflix subscription and can tune in to the dedicated stream on October 30.
