Fallon Sherrock is among the competitors who will try to beat Luke Littler for a £501,000 prize next week.

Sherrock, the women's world number three, is one of 24 players who have made it through to the live show of Netflix programme ‘Beat Luke Littler’. She could get the chance to win half a million pounds if she can beat the double world champion in a one-off leg of 501.

The 32-year-old is a trailblazer of the women’s game, having created history by becoming the first woman to win at the World Championship when she made the third round in 2020.

She has competed at Alexandra Palace every year but one since and has also played several other high-profile tournaments. Although she does not have a PDC Tour card, she is still a regular on the Women’s Tour, and Littler may be miffed about how she has ended up in the field.

Other contestants, who are amateurs, include a former army captain, a jockey from Australia and a former player who has played against Phil Taylor.

Mark Pooke was on the circuit almost 20 years ago, taking part in the UK Open, and he will also be a real threat to Littler, having taken out a 501 leg in 12 darts during the audition. He is trying to get back onto the tour and says he is in the last-chance saloon.

“My dream is to get myself back on to the PDC circuit, but I can’t afford to do it, so this really is my last chance,” he said. "I know I’ve still got the game; I just need to bring it out on the night. I have nothing to lose – the way I see it, he’s got to beat me, I don’t have to beat him.”

Australian jockey Zac Spain, known as Zachariah the Electrifiah, came from Melbourne for his audition last month and wants to stay in the winners’ circle. “I’ve had over 670 winners as a jockey,” he said. “For me, darts is a mental outlet – I get to go out and play darts and not take it so seriously. I got into darts three years ago because of Luke in the World Championship.”

Former captain in the British Army Jasper Scarrott, 54, said: “I’m the current British Army darts champion, and I’ve still got a bit left in me. My dad was the inspiration behind me playing darts, and he sadly passed away a week before I hit a nine-darter, so I’m sure he was looking down on me.”

Twenty-four hopefuls will have a shot at pocketing £501,000 by winning a one-off leg against the back-to-back world champion.

Littler will have to win 24 successive legs in order to survive, with the game ending if any of the amateurs check out before him.

The live show in Manchester is hosted by Gary Lineker and Richard Osman next Friday.