“Littler, it’s got to be” – Emma Paton picks world champion to save her life with a throw

If Emma Paton had to trust her life to one darter to hit a crucial dart at the decisive moment, she wouldn’t hesitate for a second. The Sky Sports presenter would emphatically pick Luke Littler. According to Paton, the 19-year-old Englishman has exactly the qualities you need when everything comes down to a single throw.

Paton, 31, is now a familiar face for darts fans. Since succeeding Laura Woods at Sky Sports in 2022, she has grown into one of the key presenters at major tournaments. That puts her regularly face to face with the sport’s biggest stars, and she knows the players not only from their stage performances but also from their personalities away from the oche.

In a Q&A with She's Got Game, Paton fielded several questions about the biggest names in darts. One stood out immediately: which darter would she trust if her life depended on that decisive dart finding the mark? The answer left no room for doubt. “Littler, it’s got to be," Paton replied instantly.

That she opted for Littler will surprise few darts fans. At just 19, the Englishman has already built an impressive honours list. With fourteen major titles, ‘The Nuke’ already ranks among the most successful players in the sport’s history. Littler is also the first darter to surpass three million pounds in prize money.

And the young global star looks far from finished. Littler is also chasing a new piece of history. He aims to become the first player ever to win all eleven televised tournaments in the PDC Premier events. After taking the first six, he has a clear head start on the record books.

Paton was then asked which darter would make the best presenter. “Probably Luke Humphries just because he is the most sensible,” she explained.

The Sky Sports host was equally clear on walk-ons. Nathan Aspinall is among the contenders in her view, thanks in part to his now iconic entrance to ‘Mr. Brightside’. She also named Michael van Gerwen and William O’Connor as players with strong walk-ons in her book.

Yet it wasn’t a darter who impressed Paton the most in her career. That honour goes to a true football legend: David Beckham. “David Beckham, who walked into Sky once when I was 23 or something. I didn’t ask for a picture because I thought that was so unprofessional. Now I’m like, why did you do that? He is like my idol.”

Paton has also forged strong ties with the darts world beyond her Sky Sports work. She is an ambassador for darts manufacturer Winmau and has even launched her own darts set.

Darts fans won’t have to wait long to see Paton back on television. On September 28th she returns to the screen as the World Grand Prix gets underway in Leicester.