While Sherrock was celebrating, Ireland’s ‘Fierce’ Pearse Mackle, a 21-year-old university student from County Cavan, was left wondering what could have been.
Mackle, who competes on PDC’s Development Tour, was the eighth competitor and failed to hit a match-winning bullseye, instead finding the nine, and his life-changing moment came and went.
He was the only other player, apart from Sherrock, to cause Littler a fright.
For most of the night, Littler cruised through the competition as he went in search of the £501,000, which he had said he would donate to charity.
With former England footballer Gary Lineker hosting and with comedian Lee Mack and television presenter Richard Osman joining Turner as part of the punditry team, this was a night to bring darts to a new audience.
The first challenger was 16-year-old Kasey Smith from Manchester, but Littler showed he was in no mood to mess about, hitting treble 20s against her with his first two darts on his way to an easy win.
Some of Littler’s opponents had never played a competitive game of darts, although everyone was keen to make the most of the experience.
With John McDonald, who retired as the main PDC master of ceremonies after the 2026 World Championship final, announcing the players before their elaborate walk-ons, this was a fun event, although most players came nowhere near beating Littler.
But there were still entertaining moments. Fourteen-year-old Jayden Walker, a year 10 pupil from Dorset, threw off a school blazer and tie to reveal his darts outfit and, as the third-highest ranked player, threatened to cause a huge shock.
But Littler raised his game when he needed to, hitting a maximum 180 followed by a 158 checkout, the highest of the night, to defeat his fellow teenager in only 12 darts.
Taylon Forrester, 18, described himself as a “binman who works with his dad” and he jumped out of a dumpster on his way to the oche.
Other entrants included Zac Spain, a jockey from Melbourne, Australia, Frenchman Theodore Wallich, who dubbed himself the ‘Moustache Kid’, 57-year-old Mark Pooke, another 14-year-old in Makinley Cooper-Johnson and Will Kemp, back playing after a heart attack earlier this year.
But Sherrock, whose participation in the competition had been questioned because of her past achievements in the sport, was the real winner, even if she had been described by Lineker as a “hairdresser from Milton Keynes”.
With Littler on stage for more than two hours, he inevitably tired with his standard dropping and Sherrock was the one to take advantage, winning in a 15-dart leg in match number 15.
Hearn reappeared to present Sherrock with a huge cheque for her life-changing victory to end a surreal night of action.
IT’S officially cosy season and who better to have a girls’ night in with than Cheryl Tweedy?
So it’s fitting that she’s bagged a whopper of a campaign deal with takeaway service Deliveroo.
Cheryl has bagged a lucrative campaign deal with takeaway service DeliverooCredit: GettyShe is also set to return to the small screen as a judge on The Voice UKCredit: Shutterstock
I can reveal the former Girls Aloud singer has netted around £500,000 to front the new ad, which will be unveiled later this month.
A source said: “Deliveroo bigwigs are delighted to have Cheryl on board, she is a dream to work with and has a huge fanbase.”
Despite her sleek physique, Cheryl loves a cheeky takeaway.
She previously said: “I have a really lovely local Thai — I love pad Thai. And coconut rice. My mouth’s watering.
“I also like Chinese food — I think that’s a childhood thing. Ooh, and Indian. I love all the bad stuff. Once a week or once every two weeks I get a takeaway.”
Geordie Cheryl put her childhood Chinese takeaway, Kwok Pao in Newcastle, on the map in 2014, when she was a judge on The X Factor.
She brought Simon Cowell along to pick up some of her favourite dishes, including salt and chilli ribs, when they were filming nearby. I’m hungry now . . .
KAM ON CAM: I’D LOVE TO BE X FACTOR JUDGE
Singer-songwriter Kamille has revealed that she would love to be a judge on The X FactorCredit: SuppliedShe previously worked on the ITV show as a coach and even wrote songs for Little MixCredit: Carver PR
SINGER-SONGWRITER Kamille has revealed that she would love to be a judge on The X Factor.
She has previously worked on the ITV show as a coach. And following Little Mix’s win in 2011, she wrote songs for them including Black Magic and Shout Out To My Ex.
Kamille told me: “I was a coach on the show, so it would be such a full circle moment.
“I’ve always loved it. I love the way you are literally creating a new life for someone, every week.
“Simon Cowell knows how much I want to be a part of it, so we’ll see. I love Simon and everything he does.
“I’m always there to support him. He is such a good friend of mine.”
Meanwhile, Kamille is venturing beyond music with the launch of BBC podcast The Girls Are Talking.
On it, she stars alongside Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan, content creator Tara Thorpe, presenter Issra Wiheba and comedian Sharifa Butterfly.
Kam added: “Girl therapy is the best therapy you can have. “You’re basically getting an unpaid therapist to help people with their problems.
“Every single issue I might have had, they’ve all been through.”
SAM: MY GIGS TOO PRICEY
Sam Fender has hit out at expensive prices being charged to attend his own gigsCredit: Getty
SAM FENDER has hit out at the sharp prices for his OWN tour tickets, insisting that he’s going to change them.
The Geordie singer is off around the country next year for his Proper Massive Stadium Tour, with tickets ranging from £64 to £130, leaving fans disgruntled.
Commenting underneath a post detailing the prices, Sam, left, wrote: “I’m not happy with these prices, they’re getting changed. It got inflated well more than I’d had in mind, it should only be inflated in relation to the cost of putting the show on.
“The standing will not be split as well, I had no idea about it.
“I have no idea how this was normalised in gigs. It’s b*****ks and it won’t be happening on this tour.”
Sam was referring to the fact that, in some venues, there are separate prices for regular standing tickets and “front standing” tickets.
Now that’s a man of the people . . .
IN THE FAMILY RAYE
Raye had a special guest on stage when she performed at The Royal Albert HallCredit: GettyRaye was joined by her songwriter grandad, Michael and they performed her track FieldsCredit: Getty
RAYE may sing “Where Is My Husband?” but at least she found her grandad on a stage in London.
The star performed a show-stopping gig at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday night where she was joined by her songwriter grandad, Michael.
The pair performed their track Fields, from her hit album This Music May Contain Hope.
She arrived at the venue fresh from scooping the prestigious Mercury Prize for the record. Congrats, Raye.
TOOTHFULLY CRUZ
CRUZ BECKHAM has admitted that he used to bite his brothers when he was a kid.
The youngest son of David and Victoria asked fans on TikTok to send him questions when he and his girlfriend Jackie Apostel were stranded with a broken down car.
Fan Sara Dawson asked: “What’s the worst telling off you had as a kid and what was it for?”
Cruz replied: “I used to bite my brothers! My grandma once chased me round the house trying to bite me back as I drew blood through Romeo’s jeans.”
Well, fangs for that, Cruz.
DIAS’S NO DATES FOR 2027
MANCHESTER City fans have been left confused over why hunk Ruben Dias has been axed from the club’s official 2027 calendar.
Maya Jama’s ex is one of the squad’s highest profile members, one of the team captains in fact. So it’s a bizarre move by the club.
Ruben has always featured prominently on the calendar in previous years.
This year he was one of the main stars and was pictured for the month of March.
But next year’s edition has no sign of him.
And that’s sure to come as a blow to the footballing heart-throb, who rightly regards himself as one of the leaders.
At least the calendar will now be a safe stocking-filler for Maya.
The Geordie Shore star was seen cuddling up to property developer Alex Swinney on a romantic boat trip before heading out to dinner.
But eagle-eyed fans noticed her ring finger was hidden, obscured by her sleeve.
COUNTRY music duo The Shires are parting ways after 13 years together.
But Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle hinted there could be a comeback, saying: “Maybe one day we’ll be making music and touring again.”
A longer statement on the split said Crissie will be “taking a break” for family life.
Doja Cat became Doja Bunny for the night when she threw a toy-themed 31st birthday partyCredit: BackGridParis Hilton channelled Britney Spears’ I’m A Slave 4 U era with her Halloween costumeCredit: @BrianZiff
CELEBRITIES in fancy dress is always one of my favourite things – and here we have two doing it in style.
Doja Cat became Doja Bunny for the night when she threw a toy-themed 31st birthday party in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Paris Hilton channelled Britney Spears’ I’m A Slave 4 U era with her Halloween costume.
The pair have been buddies for decades – and I’d love to see Brit return the favour by dressing up as Paris . . .
