Luke Littler instructed to ‘get on the treadmill’ by first ever PDC World Darts champion after he was ‘fat-shamed’ by GMB’s Adil Ray – and that he is ‘throwing £6,000 per thirty days down the drain’ renting a mansion for his mother and father

Former world champion and darts legend Dennis Priestley has given advice to teen sensation Luke Littler.

Littler, 17, is set to take on Michael van Gerwen in the World Darts Championship final on Friday night, with the Warrington-born star dispatching Stephen Bunting 6-1 in scintillating fashion in the semi-finals on Thursday.

The 17-year-old joined an exclusive group of players to qualify for back-to-back finals at the Worlds as he continues his meteoric rise in the sport over the past 12 months. 

Littler earned more than £1million in prize money in 2024 and will be in line for a £500,000 pay cheque if he beats three-time champion Van Gerwen.

However, Priestley – who was the first World Championship winner in 1994 – fired a warning towards Littler and claimed he needs to focus on his health and fitness if he is to ensure he can achieve long-term success in support. 

‘While he’s young, Littler can get away with a lot of unprofessional, bad habits,’ he told The Sports Daily. 

‘He probably can’t see them now because he’s still a kid. He should look at Luke Humphries’ transformation and shed some weight. 

‘To keep on the treadmill of darts, he may have to go on a treadmill of his own.’

The 74-year-old continued: ‘I think Littler could earn at least £1m per year throughout the rest of his career as long as he keeps his standards high and his love for the sport doesn’t decrease. 

‘Littler has to keep himself motivated, he has to think of the accolades and records that are there for him instead of the money.’

Priestley’s comments in regards to Littler come after Good Morning Britain‘s Adil Ray sparked outrage for ‘fat-shaming’ the 17-year-old live on the show, leading to livid viewers vowing to call Ofcom and demand an apology.

On Thursday, hosts Ray and Kate Garraway, were discussing Littler’s victory over Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace.

Despite his fantastic achievements, Ray felt it was necessary to express his ‘worry’ for the teenager’s health.

Turning to Kate, he said: ‘I have to say and this might not be very popular, I’m a little bit worried about Luke. He’s 17 and he’s turning into the look of a darts player.

‘He is though. If I were his mum and dad, I mean, he’s sort of – look at him.’ 

Like most youngsters, Littler has previously said that he loves to eat treats such as pizza, kebabs and Swizzels Squashies sweets ahead of games.

Commenting on this, Ray added: ‘He’s admitted he has pizzas before a match and sits there playing computer games. I just think I’d be a bit worried.’ 

With a raised eyebrow, Garraway replied: ‘Are you? But he’s so successful!’. ‘I know!’ Ray responded, ‘But he’s going to get more successful and he’s going to keep on doing it. I just worry.’

When asked if Ray was ‘fretting over him’ and if he thinks ‘it’s not very healthy’, he said: ‘Yeah, I don’t want him to get too unhealthy.’

Garraway then tried to make light of the awkward conversation by joking: ‘Really? Okay, well why don’t you pop over with a carrot? See how that goes down.’ Ray laughed and said that he would give Littler a Pret salad just before the final.

Defending Littler’s eating habits, Garraway also said: ‘To be fair, lots of 17-year-olds like a pizza, don’t they?’

‘I know, I know,’ Ray said as he backed down, adding, ‘I’m just a bit concerned. He’s brilliant though, I absolutely love him, he’s just great.’

Meanwhile, in October it was revealed that Littler had made the most of his new fame and fortune by moving with his parents into a five-bedroom mansion, which he is renting for £6,000-a-month in a leafy village suburb of his hometown of Warrington, Cheshire.

And Priestley hinted that his eyebrows had been raised by Littler’s decision and felt the 17-year-old could be better off spending his money differently. 

‘I don’t know what advice he is getting,’ he said. ‘I was asked about his renting of a mansion at £6,000-a-month. 

‘I mean if he’d have come to me for some advice, I would have said if you want a mansion and that sort of life you’re better off buying it. 

‘Having a mortgage is better than wasting £6,000 and getting nothing back for it. But that’s his business. That’s how I’d look at it because it’s just £6,000-a-month thrown down the drain. 

‘£72,0000-a-year. That will keep him on his toes. He’s got to keep earning away if he’s laying that sort of money down.’