The competition, which offers a prize of £501,000 for any challenger who can defeat the 19-year-old sensation, is scheduled to take place on 30 October. The live broadcast will originate from the Manchester Central Convention Complex later this month.

Each of the 24 participants will compete against Littler in a single leg of 501. The format is designed to test the challengers against one of the sport's most dominant figures, who has redefined youth success in professional darts.

Sherrock, a trailblazer in the sport, gained international recognition in 2019 when she became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship by defeating Ted Evetts. Her inclusion highlights the diverse field of challengers.

The lineup also features emerging teenage talents, including 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie of Scotland. Lawrie made history last year as the first teenager to reach a WDF World Championship final and is a two-time world youth champion.

Another notable participant is Jayden Walker, who recently set a record as the youngest winner of a senior WDF title by claiming the England International Open earlier this month. This record was previously held by Littler himself.

Luke Littler rose to prominence in 2024 when, at the age of 16, he reached the final of the PDC World Darts Championship. He subsequently became the youngest world champion in history by winning the 2025 title.

The 19-year-old solidified his status as the sport's premier player by successfully defending his world title 12 months later. His rapid ascent has made him a focal point for this unique televised exhibition produced by Netflix.

The selection process for the 24 challengers was rigorous, beginning with auditions held in London and Manchester throughout September. Prospective contestants were required to complete a leg of 501 in 24 darts or fewer to qualify for consideration.

Successful candidates from the initial stage advanced to interviews with show producers. The final selection was determined by a panel of experts, including 16-time world champion Phil Taylor and Matchroom founder Barry Hearn, who evaluated the hopefuls.

Professional darts player and television pundit Laura Turner also served on the judging panel to help identify the final group of challengers. The group represents a mix of established figures and rising prospects within the wider darts community.

The event aims to showcase the skill of amateur players against the backdrop of professional production. By offering a significant financial incentive, the organisers hope to create a compelling spectacle for the global audience watching the live stream.

Sherrock's recent form includes a notable victory over Beau Greaves, where she ended her opponent's 114-match winning streak in the PDC Women's Series earlier this year. She remains a prominent and highly competitive figure in the women's game.

The inclusion of younger players like Lawrie and Walker underscores the shifting landscape of darts, where teenagers are increasingly competing at the highest levels of the sport. Their presence adds a layer of intrigue to the upcoming event.

The Manchester Central Convention Complex is expected to host a capacity crowd for the live broadcast. Netflix has positioned the event as a major feature in its sports programming slate for the upcoming autumn season.

As the date approaches, anticipation continues to build regarding whether any of the 24 contestants can overcome the challenge posed by Littler. The single-leg format ensures that the outcome remains unpredictable until the final dart is thrown.

The event serves as a platform to highlight the depth of talent currently emerging in the sport. With legends like Phil Taylor involved in the selection process, the credibility of the challenge remains a priority for the production.

While Littler has dominated the professional circuit, the pressure of a single-leg match against an unknown opponent provides a unique test. The format rewards accuracy and composure under intense scrutiny from both the crowd and the cameras.

Fans of the sport will be watching closely to see how the challengers fare against the current world champion. The event is set to be one of the most-watched darts exhibitions of the year on the streaming platform.

Further details regarding the broadcast schedule and additional participants are expected to be released by Netflix ahead of the 30 October event. The primary focus remains on the clash between the established champion and the hopeful challengers.

The three-week men race gets under way with a stage from Edinburgh to Carlisle on 2 July. It is followed by a route between Keswick and Liverpool before Wales hosts a third and final grand depart stage from Welshpool to Cardiff on 4 July.

The women event starts on 30 July with a race from Leeds to Manchester, before moving back across the Pennines to Yorkshire with a finish in Sheffield. A testing team time trial around the streets of central London will complete the opening section of that nine-stage race.

The collaboration is a first for both races in a Super Grand Depart. Men race director Christian Prudhomme said that just a few weeks apart, the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will each take their respective pelotons on a journey through the roads of the United Kingdom.

Prudhomme highlighted the symbolic nature of hosting both pelotons in Great Britain, noting the historic significance of starting at the foot of Edinburgh Castle and concluding the opening phase with a London time trial on 1 August.

Stage one of the men race covers a distance of 184 kilometres heading south from Edinburgh across the border into Carlisle. The route features a demanding 2.2-kilometre climb up the Cote de Melrose located near the birthplace of young Ineos contender Oscar Onley.

Stage two presents a grueling 223-kilometre journey starting from Keswick within the Lake District and finishing in Liverpool. Riders will face five categorised climbs and a cumulative total of 2,800 metres of ascending over the course of the day.

The final British stage of the men competition takes place on 4 July, running 223 kilometres from Welshpool in northern Wales to the capital city of Cardiff. The route includes eight categorised hills and approximately 3,000 metres of climbing.

The opening stage of the Tour de France Femmes begins on Friday, 30 July, covering 85.7 kilometres from Leeds to Manchester. The route incorporates three notable climbs, including the Cote de Meltham which stretches 3.2 kilometres at an average gradient of 8.4 percent.

Stage two of the women race takes the peloton 154.4 kilometres from Manchester to Sheffield. Competitors will tackle seven climbs during the day, featuring the punishing Winnats Pass in the Peak District which measures 1.4 kilometres at an average gradient of 12.3 percent.

The opening section of the women race concludes with an 18-kilometre team time trial around central London. The route begins on Whitehall, passes through Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge, and finishes in front of crowds along The Mall.

Paul Bush, managing director of the Grand Depart GB 2027 project, addressed the auditorium during the presentation to describe the occasion as an extraordinary and historic moment for cycling fans across Scotland, England, and Wales.

Bush specifically praised the women team time trial as a memorable addition that will pass through the heart of London and finish on The Mall for the first time in the modern history of the competition.

UK Government sports minister Stephanie Peacock also welcomed the announcement, confirming that an investment of 32 million pounds will fund the races alongside a lasting legacy program designed to benefit the public long after the final rider crosses the finish line.

Previous visits by the Tour de France to the United Kingdom include stages held in London during 1974, 1994, and 2007, followed by the highly successful Yorkshire Grand Depart in 2014 which drew massive roadside crowds.

When the race last visited Yorkshire in 2014, more than 2.5 million spectators lined the route to watch the opening stages of the men competition. That event triggered a significant surge in national cycling participation and inspired the creation of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Although the Tour de Yorkshire eventually left the professional calendar after struggling to recover from the disruptions of the Covid pandemic, British cycling has continued to maintain a strong presence at the elite international level.

Interest in the sport had previously fluctuated as legendary sprinter Mark Cavendish and four-time yellow jersey winner Chris Froome gradually stepped away from their dominant positions at the peak of international cycling.

However, the 2026 season witnessed a record participation of 49 British riders competing across both the men and women World Tour pelotons, supported by notable victories including Matt Brennan securing five stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana in September.

Organisers anticipate that the 2027 Super Grand Depart will generate immense excitement among supporters and further cement the United Kingdom status as a major destination for world-class international cycling events over the coming years.