ITV bosses ‘contemplating reboot of iconic 80s sport present’

ITV bosses are contemplating bringing darts-themed sport present Bullseye again to tv screens after Luke ­Littler acquired the nation gripped by the game once more, it has been claimed.

Darts hero Luke, aged 16, completed because the runner-up within the 2024 World Darts Championship after World Number One Luke Humphries powered previous him within the match this week.

It was a disappointing finish to the event for Luke – however 4.8million viewers tuned in to observe the match in an achievement which made the Championship closing Sky Sports’ most watched non-football occasion ever.

And it has been reported TV bigwigs are hoping to piggyback on the sports activities’ recognition and produce again iconic 80s gameshow Bullseye, with Paddy McGuiness as a possible host.

The programme was made well-known by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995, earlier than it was revived on Challenge TV in 2006, when it was hosted by comic Dave Spikey.

ITV bosses are contemplating bringing darts-themed sport present Bullseye again to tv screens after Luke ­Littler acquired the nation gripped by the game once more, it has been claimed (Jim Bowen seen internet hosting Bullseye in 1984)

It has been reported TV bigwigs are hoping to piggyback on the sports activities’ recognition and produce again iconic 80s gameshow Bullseye, with Paddy McGuiness as a possible host (Paddy pictured final month)

A supply instructed The Sun: ‘ITV is already in discussions to deliver again Bullseye after this yr’s closing drew within the occasion’s highest viewership in historical past.

‘It’s early days, however ITV suppose it could possibly be massively profitable.

‘There are even plans to deliver again the speedboat high prize — even when contestants stay in a landlocked place, which regularly occurred throughout Bullseye’s heyday.

‘They suppose Paddy, together with his Lancashire roots like Jim, could be the proper particular person to host.’

MailOnline has contacted ITV for remark.

It comes after Luke Littler, 16, completed because the runner-up within the 2024 World Darts Championship after World Number One Luke Humphries powered previous him within the match this week, with teen sensation Luke capturing the eye of the nation in the course of the event.

While Luke didn’t win, 4.8million viewers tuned in to observe the match in an achievement which made the Championship closing Sky Sports’ most watched non-football occasion ever.

Reports counsel that Luke’s meteoric rise to fame has already fuelled a bidding struggle for the rights to recreate it on movie, after he stepped up because the youngest ever World Darts Championship finalist at Alexandra Palace.

The programme, was made well-known by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995 (Jim pictured on the present within the 80s)

It was revived on Challenge TV in 2006, when it was hosted by comic Dave Spikey (pictured)

Boxing powerhouse Anthony Joshua’s manufacturing firm is alleged to have tabled a multi-million pound bid to safe permission to adapt Luke’s story after thousands and thousands watched his nail-biting closing towards Luke Humphries on Wednesday.

Littler, now among the many high 32 darts gamers on the planet, went toe-to-toe with world primary Humphries because the PDC World Darts Championship’s youngest ever finalist, dropping 7-4 after trouncing different gamers with a lifetime’s extra expertise.

Joshua’s manufacturing agency, SBX Studios, is alleged to have eyes on a biopic and comes as Sky Sports confirmed it was producing a behind-the-scenes documentary on this yr’s darts championship in contrast to every other.

A supply instructed The Sun of Joshua’s rumoured curiosity in Littler: ‘There is an actual battle to purchase the movie rights to Luke and his staff have been getting a great deal of presents.

‘Anthony’s manufacturing firm put one on the desk yesterday and are actually eager to get Luke on board.

‘As a sportsman, Anthony has watched Luke’s unimaginable rise and thinks his story is extremely inspiring. He would love the prospect to assist inform it and thinks their supply is among the finest Luke will get.’

According to its web site, SBX Studios has produced content material for manufacturers similar to Hugo Boss, Lucozade, Under Armour, and Turkish Airlines, in addition to on-line sports activities platform DAZN and boxing promoter Matchroom.

It has additionally created content material for figures similar to Raheem Sterling and Mo Farah, in addition to Joshua himself – however a venture similar to adapting Littler for the large display would seemingly be its largest but.

Film executives will likely be eager to capitalise on Littler’s fame whereas it’s contemporary, amid a resurgence in mainstream curiosity in darts that hasn’t been seen since Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.

It comes after Luke Littler, 16 (pictured), completed because the runner-up within the 2024 World Darts Championship after World Number One Luke Humphries powered previous him within the match this week, with teen sensation Luke capturing the eye of the nation in the course of the event 

Millions watched the 16-year-old tackle Humphries, giving Sky Sports its largest non-football viewers on report

It would not harm that the 16-year-old’s life story has all the elements of a very good biopic, from his humble roots in Warrington to the younger love flourishing between the teenager and 21-year-old beautician girlfriend Eloise Milburn.

His arrival on the world stage got here after years of conquering junior leagues with the encouragement of his mother and father, who acquired him into darts from the second he may stroll and inspired him to develop his potential on the oche.

And any adaptation would come sizzling on the heels of a variety of different ‘different’ sports activities biopics primarily based on a real story launched in recent times.

Among them are flicks similar to The Phantom of the Open, primarily based on the exploits of Maurice Flitcroft, the ‘world’s worst golfer’, and Gran Turismo, primarily based on racing driver Jann Mardenborough, who started his profession driving vehicles on his PlayStation.

Luke is reportedly on the centre of an intense bidding struggle for the rights to movie his life story with boxer Anthony Joshua’s manufacturing firm SBX Studios reported to have made a suggestion (Anthony, proper, pictured final month)