Glen Durrant Admits He’s Worried About Luke Littler Amid Growing Crowd Backlash

Luke Littler has achieved things most darts players can only dream of, but there is one challenge that even his extraordinary talent cannot completely control: the behaviour of the crowd.

The teenage sensation has become one of the biggest names in the sport, attracting enormous attention wherever he plays. However, his growing popularity has also brought an increasingly uncomfortable side to his success, with sections of spectators choosing to boo and whistle rather than appreciate his performances.

And former three-time BDO world champion Glen Durrant has admitted that he is becoming concerned about how the youngster will handle the situation.

Durrant’s comments came after Littler experienced a hostile reception during his 2025/26 World Darts Championship campaign at Alexandra Palace. While the youngster was continuing to deliver on the biggest stage, the reaction from some supporters left the Sky Sports pundit wondering how much pressure an 18-year-old could reasonably be expected to handle.

Glen Durrant explains why he’s nervous for Littler

The incident followed Littler’s fourth-round encounter against former world champion Rob Cross on January 1, 2026.

Littler came through a difficult contest to defeat Cross 4-2 and book his place in the quarter-finals. However, the attention after the match was not entirely focused on his performance.

Sections of the Alexandra Palace crowd had booed the defending champion, prompting a response from Littler during his post-match interview with Sky Sports reporter Polly James.

When asked about the reaction, Littler turned towards the spectators and said:

“I’m not bothered. Really not bothered.

“Can I just say one thing? You guys [the crowd] pay for tickets, you pay for my prize money. So thank you!

“No-one wanted me to win, but I proved them wrong yet again.”

It was a confident response from a player who had just survived a difficult examination against an experienced opponent.

However, Durrant was not entirely convinced that the situation was something Littler should simply brush aside.

Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of the quarter-final, the former Premier League champion explained:

“I’m a bit nervous for him,”

“He’s 18. You don’t know how a player’s going to react.

“This sport, the regeneration of this sport over three years, has been down to him. He’s been truly magnificent.

“He’s been the most incredible story, that’s put our humble sport on the front pages of the newspapers as well as the back pages.

“But he’s 18, and when that crowd really gets on his back… the reaction from the crowd makes me slightly nervous.”

Durrant’s concern was not about Littler’s ability to win matches. It was about the emotional demands of dealing with thousands of spectators turning against him.

 

Littler has become darts’ biggest attraction

It is difficult to overstate the impact Littler has had on professional darts since his breakthrough appearance at the 2024 World Championship.

At just 16, he reached the final at Alexandra Palace, defeating several established professionals along the way before losing to Luke Humphries.

That run transformed him from a relatively unknown teenager into one of the most recognisable young sportsmen in Britain.

His popularity continued to grow throughout 2024, and he eventually secured his first world title in January 2025 by defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final.

He then successfully defended that crown in January 2026, beating Gian van Veen 7-1 to become a back-to-back world champion.

But success can sometimes bring an unexpected problem.

As Littler continues collecting trophies, some supporters have seemingly become less interested in celebrating his achievements and more interested in trying to disrupt his concentration.

There is an argument that this is simply part of professional sport. Great champions have always attracted criticism, and darts has never been a particularly quiet environment.

However, there is a difference between playful sporting pantomime and deliberately trying to distract a player while they are throwing.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important in Littler’s case.

Durrant believes the crowd reaction could bring out another side of Littler

Interestingly, Durrant was not necessarily against the idea of Littler responding to the supporters.

When Sky Sports presenter Anna Woolhouse asked whether the reaction could motivate the youngster, Durrant admitted that he would actually like to see Littler use the situation to his advantage.

He said:

“I sit here as a fan, so that’s what I’d like to see [a reaction from him].

“But the fact that the crowd are there, the fact that Ratajski will be tenacious… I’m interested to see how it goes.”

That was an interesting assessment because Littler has already demonstrated that he enjoys playing with confidence and personality.

He is not the type of player who always tries to hide his emotions. When he produces a brilliant finish or wins an important leg, his celebrations often reflect exactly how much the moment means to him.

Personally, I think that is part of what makes him such an entertaining character.

Darts needs personalities, and having a young superstar who is willing to show emotion is not necessarily a bad thing.

However, there is a danger that the constant attention could turn every match into a battle with the audience rather than simply a contest against the opponent.

For someone still developing as a professional, learning when to respond and when to ignore the noise could become just as important as improving his finishing.

Crowd hostility has continued to follow Littler

Unfortunately, the concerns raised by Durrant have not disappeared.

During 2026, Littler experienced further hostile reactions from sections of the crowd, particularly at tournaments in the Netherlands.

At the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam in September, the Englishman was repeatedly booed and whistled at by spectators.

He responded angrily and even suggested that he could stop travelling to tournaments in the Netherlands if the treatment continued.

Former two-time world champion Adrian Lewis also criticised the treatment, describing it as unfair.

Durrant subsequently discussed the situation and acknowledged how uncomfortable it had become for the reigning world champion.

He also pointed out that Dutch supporters could ultimately lose out if their behaviour discouraged Littler from competing in their country.

Raymond van Barneveld had even appealed to Dutch supporters to show respect towards the visiting players, but the hostile atmosphere remained a talking point.

It is a situation that the PDC cannot afford to ignore, particularly when one of its biggest attractions is becoming increasingly frustrated with sections of the audience.

 

Littler needs support as well as criticism

One thing worth remembering is that Littler is still incredibly young.

His achievements sometimes make people forget that he is navigating the pressures of professional sport while growing up in the public eye.

He has millions of supporters, enormous commercial attention and expectations that would be difficult for many experienced professionals to manage.

Durrant understands that being an exceptional darts player does not automatically mean someone is emotionally prepared for every situation that comes with worldwide recognition.

And that is why his original comments remain relevant.

The sport has benefited enormously from Littler’s emergence. Television audiences, public interest and commercial attention have all been boosted by the excitement surrounding his performances.

It would be disappointing if the atmosphere surrounding his matches became so hostile that he started reconsidering where he wanted to compete.

There is nothing wrong with passionate supporters backing their favourites or creating an intimidating atmosphere. That is part of what makes darts special.

But players should still be allowed to concentrate when they step up to throw.

What happens next for Luke Littler?

Littler has already shown that he possesses the ability and confidence to overcome difficult situations.

His consecutive world championship victories demonstrate that he can deliver when the pressure is enormous.

However, Durrant’s warning highlights something that statistics and trophies cannot always explain.

The mental side of the sport matters, and even the most naturally gifted player needs the right environment to perform consistently.

I would rather see supporters celebrating Littler’s extraordinary talent than turning every appearance into an argument with the crowd.

He is already giving darts something special, and the sport should be doing everything possible to protect that excitement.

Do you agree with Glen Durrant? Are you also worried about the treatment Luke Littler is receiving from sections of the crowd, or should the world champion simply learn to ignore the boos?