Teen darts sensation "fat-shamed" by TV host

ITV presenter Adil Ray has been accused of fat-shaming teenage darts sensation Luke Littler on Good Morning Britain.

Ray, a former BBC employee who also works as a radio broadcaster, expressed his concern about Littler’s health because of his diet and lifestyle, during a debate on Thursday morning’s show.

Speaking to co-presenter Kate Garraway about the 17-year-old, who plays for a place in a second consecutive World Darts Championship final today, Ray claimed Littler was “turning into the look of a darts player”.

Ray said: “I have to say, and this might not be very popular, I’m a little bit worried about Luke. He’s 17 and he’s turning into the look of a darts player.”

When challenged on his claim, he added: “He is though. If I were his mum and dad, I mean, he’s sort of ... look at him. He’s admitted he has pizzas before a match and sits there playing computer games. I just think I’d be a bit worried.”

Garraway appeared taken aback by Ray’s comments and responded: “Are you? But he’s so successful.”

But Ray doubled down. “I know! But he’s going to get more successful and he’s going to keep on doing it. I just worry.”

And when Garraway suggested that Ray was “fretting” about Littler and that he was suggesting Littler’s lifestyle was “not very healthy”, he responded: “Yeah, I don’t want him to get too unhealthy.”

Ray also suggested he would give Littler a Pret a Manger salad before Saturday’s final NZT.

Garraway defended the teenager, who last month broke down in tears at the Alexandra Palace during an interview after his second-round victory over Ryan Meikle when the level of expectation appeared to get to him. “To be fair, lots of 17-year-olds like a pizza, don’t they?”

Several viewers expressed their outrage at Ray’s comments, with some claiming they would report him to regulator Ofcom for “fat-shaming” a teenage boy.

One social media user said: “GMB this vile individual fat-shamed a 17-year-old-dart player. @‌Ofcom this is disgusting.”

A second said: “Wow Adil Ray body-shaming Luke Littler on live TV, call to @‌Ofcom needed @‌GMB. He’s not even that overweight. I bet Adil hasn’t even seen the inside of a gym.

A third added: “@GMB Really, Fat-shaming live on morning TV @‌Ofcom should investigate this shocking behaviour.”

And one even called for Ray’s removal by ITV: “@GMB please ditch that Adil Ray! I hope he makes a public apology to Luke Littler after making derogatory comments about him.”

Littler’s popularity since his World Championship breakthrough in 2023-24 has rocketed in the past 12 months, resulting in him being voted in second place of the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year behind winner Keely Hodgkinson.

His victory over Nathan Aspinall on New Year’s Day landed him a guaranteed £100,000 ($221,300) for reaching the semifinals of the competition, where he will meet Stephen Bunting today, before a possible final showdown against either three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen or Chris Dobey.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission