BBC host Richard Osman has revealed that Netflix has a secret backup plan in place if Luke Littler loses in the new show Beat Luke Littler. The darts world champion is set to take on 24 amateur players in a one-dart leg of 501.
The first person to beat Littler will take home a £501,000 jackpot, but if Littler wins against all the hopefuls, he will claim the prize himself. Around 2,500 people will be in Manchester to watch the event, which is being broadcast live on Netflix.
Osman on the show's format
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment, Osman explained what happens if Littler is beaten early in the show, with a three-hour broadcast to fill. He said: "What happens if someone beats Luke Littler? That's the question I get asked the most.
"And the answer to that is yes, that is the end of the game. That's why I wanted to do it, because it's sport and it has to be real.
"We've got 20 players and if the first person beats Luke Littler, they win £501,000 and that is it. That is the money gone.
"And that is 15 minutes of television for the price of three hours worth of television. Netflix understands that. All sports fans understand that.
Backup plan details
Osman hinted at a contingency plan without revealing specifics. He said: "We've all paid-per-view for boxing matches that are over in 15 seconds. We have a little stopgap, which I won't say what it is because we might not have to use it.
"If one of the first few people wins, there is another pot of money and a very different style of tournament that also involves Luke that we will then play. I think that'll be a lot of fun as well.
"As producers, if you produce the football you know it goes for 90 minutes plus extra time. If you produce darts or boxing or snooker, things can end much quicker.
"If someone wins 9-0 at snooker, your programme is two hours shorter than if they win 9-8. If you're watching boxing and someone wins in the first round, you've got two hours to fill.
"If it goes for three or four people or even one then, as I say, we got another very cool thing that we're going to do but it will be shorter than it would otherwise have been."
