'Potty to go to SPOTY' SAYS PHIL TAYLOR

DARTS legend Phil Taylor has told Luke Littler to snub the BBC's Sports Personality Of The Year gala to focus on becoming world champion.

- MIKE WALTERS

In a seasonal address from his Potteries kingdom, The Power warned 17-year-old Littler there was too much at stake to "hang out on the red carpet" and said: "If I was his manager I'd tell him, 'Sorry, you're not going' - and record a video message."

Luke the Nuke is second favourite, behind odds-on Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, to win the Beeb's prestigious gong.

But 16-times world champion Taylor - the SPOTY runner-up behind jockey AP McCoy 14 years ago fears Littler's competition will be too steep at the Paddy Power PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace to be distracted by showbiz.

He said: "Littler is playing like a magician, but Luke Humphries is the man to beat at Ally Pally.

"He's the reigning champion, he's No.1 in the world and Littler will have to get past him in the semi-finals if the draw unfolds the way you would expect.