Netflix's 'Beat Luke Littler' was dubbed as a chance for an average punter to change their lives overnight, but the jackpot claimed in Manchester was not won by a plucky unknown.

It was sold as the ultimate pub fantasy: beat the best player on the planet over a single leg of 501 and walk away with £501,000. After Littler had swatted aside a procession of hopefuls, it took the sport's most recognisable female player, Fallon Sherrock, to finally topple 'The Nuke'.

Yet, it was Gary Lineker's comments on Sherrock's victory that have been called out by fans in the aftermath of the live event.

Beat Luke Littler's 'Amateur' Billing Never Sat Right

The entry rules were simple: contestants could not hold, or have ever held, a PDC Tour Card. Sherrock met that criterion – but few players have a CV less suited to the word 'amateur'.

The 32-year-old made history when she became the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship in December 2019. She has since reached a Grand Slam quarter-final, won the Women's World Matchplay and been awarded an MBE for services to darts.

Fans were unhappy before a dart was thrown, prompting Netflix to respond to 'fix' allegations by insisting all 24 finalists had queued at open heats in London or Manchester and finished a leg in 24 darts or fewer. Sherrock then earned her shot through a public vote, taking 75 per cent against Germany's Jarod Becker, heading in as the biggest contender.

Gary Lineker's 'Hairdresser' Line Draws Criticism

Sherrock duly delivered, landing a 180 and pinning her double with Littler still well adrift. Lineker then wrapped up the broadcast by telling viewers:

"Fallon Sherrock walked in here as a hairdresser, she walks out £501,000 richer having beaten the world champion, Luke Littler, live in front of a global audience. Incredible."

The "Queen of the Palace" is a qualified hairdresser, but reducing a darts trailblazer with an MBE to an everyday punter went down badly with fans. The Telegraph's verdict was blunt: "And so up stepped Sherrock. But surely the point of bringing in a ringer is to help your own cause, not devalue it? Lineker signed off by saying 'she walked in here a hairdresser from Milton Keynes. She leaves half a million pounds richer'. Settle down Gary, come on."

While on social media, viewers argued that a professional beating a professional had undermined the entire premise, and her achievements.

Fans' responses were aligned with their reactions; one described it as "utterly bizarre" that Sherrock was allowed to compete, while another noted that "WE ALL know she's basically a Pro player without a tourcard" in light of the victory.

Another took aim at Lineker, saying "Erm, no Gary. She walked in a Professional Darts Player who competed on the World Stage, stupid concept."

The most humorous comment used The Rest is Football podcast host's words against him: "Gary Lineker calling Fallon Sherrock a hairdresser from Milton Keynes is like me calling him a TV presenter from Leicester".

The Real Amateurs Who Came Closest

The genuine underdog story belonged to Pearse Mackle. The 21-year-old University of Galway student, who has represented Ireland at youth level, was the only other contestant to have a dart for the jackpot, missing the bull for an 89 checkout.

Littler beat 14 challengers before Sherrock stepped up, but more than two hours on stage visibly took its toll. Her win also meant five contestants never threw a dart, including 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie, who made history in 2025 as the first teenager to come runner-up at the WDF World Championship.

Littler was gracious in defeat and floated the idea of Netflix staging the event again next year. If it does return, the amateur criteria may need a rethink.

Next up for Littler is defending his PDC Grand Slam of Darts crown, set to take place on November 14–22 as the build up to the PDC World Championship continues. He beat Luke Humphries in the final last year, and will be the favourite to retain his title, despite a rocky few months on the tour.