ITV bosses ‘considering restart of iconic 80s game show after 28 years without a channel, with big TV star as presenter’

ITV bosses are considering bringing darts-themed game show Bullseye back to television screens after Luke Littler returned the nation to the sport’s grip, it has been claimed.

Darts hero Luke, 16, finished second in the 2024 World Darts Championship after world number one Luke Humphries overtook him in the match this week.

It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Luke, but 4.8 million viewers watched the match, a feat that made Sky Sports’ Championship final the most-watched non-football event ever.

And TV executives are reportedly hoping to cash in on the sport’s popularity and bring back iconic 1980s game show Bullseye, with Paddy McGuiness as a potential presenter.

The program was made famous by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995, before being revived on Challenge TV in 2006 when it was presented by comedian Dave Spikey.

It has been reported that TV bigwigs are hoping to cash in on the sport’s popularity and bring back iconic ’80s game show Bullseye, with Paddy McGuiness as a potential presenter (Paddy pictured last month)

A source said The sun: ‘ITV is already in talks to bring back Bullseye after this year’s final attracted the highest number of viewers in the event’s history.

‘It’s still early days, but ITV thinks it could be a huge success.

‘There are even plans to bring back the speedboat grand prize even if the participants live in a landlocked place, which often happened during Bullseye’s heyday.

‘They think Paddy, with his roots in Lancashire, like Jim, would be the perfect person to host.’

MailOnline has contacted ITV for comment.

It comes after 16-year-old Luke Littler finished second in the 2024 World Darts Championship after world champion Luke Humphries romped past him in the match this week, with teenage sensation Luke capturing the nation’s attention at the tournament.

Although Luke did not win, 4.8 million viewers watched the match, a feat that made Sky Sports’ championship final the most watched non-football event ever.

Reports suggest Luke’s meteoric rise has already sparked a bidding war for the rights to reproduce it on film after he became the youngest ever World Darts Championship finalist at Alexandra Palace.

The program was made famous by the late Jim Bowen when it ran on ITV from 1981 to 1995 (Jim pictured on the show in the 80s)

It was revived on Challenge TV in 2006 when it was presented by comedian Dave Spikey (pictured)

Boxing powerhouse Anthony Joshua’s production company is said to have submitted a multi-million pound bid to get permission to adapt Luke’s story after millions watched his nail-biting final against Luke Humphries on Wednesday.

Littler, who is now one of the top 32 darts players in the world, took on world number one Humphries as the youngest ever finalist of the PDC World Darts Championship. He lost 7-4 after beating other players with a lifetime of more experience.

Joshua’s production company, SBX Studios, is said to be eyeing a biopic and it comes as Sky Sports has confirmed it is producing a behind-the-scenes documentary about this year’s darts championship like no other.

A source said The sun on Joshua’s rumored interest in Littler: ‘There is a real battle going on to buy Luke’s film rights and his team has had a lot of offers.

“Anthony’s production company put one on the table yesterday and are really keen to get Luke on board.

‘As a sportsman, Anthony has seen Luke’s incredible rise and finds his story incredibly inspiring. He would love the opportunity to help spread the word and thinks their offer is one of the best Luke will get.”

According to its website, SBX Studios has produced content for brands including Hugo Boss, Lucozade, Under Armor and Turkish Airlines, as well as online sports platform DAZN and boxing promoter Matchroom.

It has also created content for the likes of Raheem Sterling and Mo Farah, as well as Joshua himself – but a project like adapting Littler for the big screen would likely be its biggest yet.

Film executives will be keen to capitalize on Littler’s fame while it is still fresh, amid a resurgence in mainstream interest in darts not seen since Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.

It comes after Luke Littler, 16 (pictured), finished second in the 2024 World Darts Championship after world champion Luke Humphries romped past him in the match this week, with teenage sensation Luke capturing the nation’s attention during the match. tournament

Millions watched the 16-year-old version of Humphries, giving Sky Sports its largest non-football audience ever

It doesn’t hurt that the 16-year-old’s life story has all the ingredients of a good biopic, from his humble roots in Warrington to the young love that blossoms between the teenager and 21-year-old beautician Eloise Milburn.

His arrival on the world stage came after years of conquering junior competitions with the encouragement of his parents, who started him playing darts from the moment he could walk and encouraged him to develop his potential at the oche.

And any adaptation would follow a number of other “alternative” sports biopics based on a true story that have been released in recent years.

These include films such as The Phantom of the Open, based on the exploits of Maurice Flitcroft, the ‘world’s worst golfer’, and Gran Turismo, based on racing driver Jann Mardenborough, who started his career driving on his PlayStation.

Luke is reportedly at the center of an intense bidding war for the rights to film his life story with boxer Anthony Joshua’s production company. SBX Studios is said to have made an offer (Anthony, right, pictured last month)