USA Update

CHRISTMAS specials are always guaranteed to put us in the holiday spirit. 

But with a smashing line-up of epic TV over the festive period, it can be hard to choose which show to sit down and curl up on the sofa and watch. 

The BBC

Gavin and Stacey’s 2019 special takes joint third place for the most popular Christmas special this year[/caption]

The BBC

Fret not, TV addicts! Ahead of this year’s selection, a list of the most popular TV Christmas specials of all time has been revealed – and the choices are surprising.

With fans eagerly awaiting the return of the Gavin and Stacey finale this Christmas, you would be forgiven for assuming the fan-favourite would be number one.

In fact, taking the top spot for the most popular TV special ever is Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol. 

Starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, this top-ranking episode sees The Doctor and Amy Pond having only one hour to save a crashing spaceship before it’s too late. 

The episode aired on Christmas Day in 2010 and had over 12 million tuning in. 

The US Office’s Christmas special, Christmas Party, follows closely behind in second place. 

The episode, which aired back in 2005, shows Office boss Michael Scott on a mission to save the Christmas party from heading to boredom. 

The special was hugely successful and had over nine million viewers and almost 160,000 searches, the third highest number of searches overall.

Taking the trophy for third place is both Christmas at Downton Abbey and Gavin and Stacey’s 2019 Christmas special, A Special Christmas. 

Meanwhile Gavin and Stacey’s 2008 Christmas special was the most searched for special, with over 308,000 searches followed by Black Mirror’s White Christmas with over 208,500 searches.

Surprisingly, the Christmas special with the lowest number of worldwide searches was Friends: The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie, despite a whopping 23 million viewers. 

The research, carried out by Betway, measured each episode’s popularity by a unique index score, based on ratings on IMDb, Amazon, number of viewers (per million) and number of searches worldwide – with the lower the overall index score the higher the ranking.

If you’re after something new to watch over the upcoming Christmas period, there’s also a raft of Christmas specials being aired, such as The Good Ship Murder, Bargain Hunt and For The Love of Dogs.

Doctor Who fans are also in for another treat as BBC Two are airing a special from the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on Christmas Eve.  

Meanwhile The Weakest Link, Strictly Come Dancing and Wallace and Gromit are all airing specials on Christmas Day.

TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk are all set to face off TONIGHT in what is expected to be a spine-tingling heavyweight bout – so it’s only right that each commentary team has a panel full of experts!

The Gypsy King will do everything he possibly can to get revenge in this super Saudi showdown.

Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematch

Usyk handed Fury his first-ever professional defeat earlier this year with a stunning split-decision win despite being taken to hospital immediately after with a suspected broken jaw.

Ukrainian powerhouse Usyk also became the first heavyweight undisputed champion this CENTURY for his troubles.

However, unlike last time, only three belts will be up for grabs as Usyk was forced to vacate the IBF title to allow mandatories to get their shot at winning it.

But one thing that hasn’t changed from the previous contest is that THREE major broadcasters will be covering the fight, and SunSport can reveal who represents each platform.

Who is on commentary for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2?

Tyson Fury‘s huge rematch against TONIGHT Oleksandr Usyk will be shown live on DAZN, TNT Sports Box Office AND Sky Sports Box Office

And each major broadcaster has their own commentary and presenting teams for the mouthwatering Riyadh rematch.

DAZN

Major sporting broadcaster DAZN has confirmed that Kate Scott and Ade Oladipo will be lead presenters for the night.

And they’ll be joined by Andy Lee and Eddie Hearn as guest pundits.

In the commentary booth will be Adam Smith, who is back calling his first major fight since leaving Sky Sports following his battle with cancer.

Joining Smith will be ex-world champion boxers Barry Jones and Darren Barker.

TNT SPORTS BOX OFFICE

Laura Woods misses out for a second successive time, so Becky Ives is the lead presenter once again.

Woods was forced to watch from home earlier this year after suffering a freak accident on holiday.

But it is a much more positive reason as to why she is not available this time round – the presenting guru is pregnant.

Becky Ives will also have expert help from Carl Frampton, David Haye and Steve Bunce.

Darren Fletcher and Richie Woodall have been left in charge of commentary.

SKY SPORTS BOX OFFICE

Ever-present Anna Woolhouse is presenting for Sky Sports.

She’ll have Johnny Nelson, Matt Christie and Dave Caldwell in the studio alongside her.

What time are the ring-walks for Fury vs Usyk 2 and when does the fight start?

• Ring-walk times for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 is scheduled for 10pm UK time/5pm ET.
• This means that Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s huge fight should get underway approximately 15 minutes later – 10:15pm UK time/5:15pm ET.
• However, timings could change depending on the length of the undercard bouts.
• Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the allocated arena for this huge event and it can host around 26,000 spectators.
• The huge flight will be streamed on DAZN, Sky Sports and TNT but alternatively, SunSport will LIVE blog the full card.

CRIPPLED with arthritis and surviving on sickness benefits, Glenda Kenyon was at rock bottom when a letter that was to change her life dropped through her front door.

The letter was from a location manager working a TV and film company and he wanted to know if she would be interested in hiring out her neat, terraced home in Barry, south Wales, for “a comedy drama”.

Nigel Iskander

Glenda Kenyon’s life was transformed when she hired out her home to film a ‘comedy drama’ that ended up being Gavin and Stacey[/caption]

Huw Evans

Glenda’s terraced home in Barry is home to Stacey and her mum Gwen[/caption]

BBC

The inside of Glenda’s house as it appears on the hit series – with Glen and Nessa making the most of her furniture[/caption]

Divorced and living alone, Glenda had recently been forced to give up her job on a factory production line making fruit machines due to her health issues.

Curious, she agreed to allowing the film company to look around her three-bedroom home. Days later, she had signed a contract agreeing to hire out her property to the makers of hit comedy series Gavin and Stacey.

Seventeen years on, her house, at 47 Trinity Street, was to become one of the biggest “stars” of the show – and ensured she was never lonely again.

As the final episode in the show’s history airs on Christmas Day, Glenda tells The Sun that almost 30,000 fans of the programme have walked through her door to experience it for themselves.

She conducts “tours” of her immaculate home, makes her visitors a cup of tea and allows them to take selfies in every room.

Glenda says: “I just love meeting other fans of the show and chatting to them. I was so lonely after I had to give up work and I get depressed if I spend too much time on my own, so it’s a lifeline, really.

“The show has made such a difference to my life – and to the town.”

Grateful Glenda is not the only one whose lives have been improved by the comedy success and locals say the TV tourism has led to a boost in the local economy, with hotels and restaurants thriving.

It’s welcome news for the town, which has a crime rate of 104.8 per 1,000 residents – 36 per cent higher than the rest of Wales.

Recent stats also named it the most dangerous medium-sized town in the region of South Glamorgan, with violence and sexual assault rates rising from 2,032 in 2022 to 3,365 in 2024.

Huw Evans

Ruth Jones and James Corden pose with Glenda back when filming was taking place[/caption]

The area has seen a sharp rise in homelessness in recent years, with a record number of people living in emergency accommodation and a local councillor recently warned the Vale of Glamorgan is facing it’s “highest housing demands for many years.”

But Sarah Howell, a sales assistant at Sofia’s Souvenirs, says the Gavin and Stacey effect has brought many benefits.

“I have an immense amount of pride for all the businesses that have blossomed since the interest in Gavin and Stacey.

“You name it – the hotels, restaurants, cafes, amusements, they have all taken off over the years and we now have a wonderful prosperous place.

“There are two dedicated coach tours every week in the summer. The place is packed.

“People come here from all over the country, from Scotland to Cornwall and we also get a lot of international visitors too.

“Many people come and stay in Cardiff and then come here for a great day out.

“I’d say that Barry is now a happy place full of happy people.”

What’s occurrin’

For 17 years, devoted fans of Gavin and Stacey have trekked to Glenda’s Victorian terraced home in a once-quiet street – sometimes up to 100 a single day – to see for themselves where scenes from the hit show are filmed.

Glenda, 71, said: “Initially, it was between my house and another one nearby, because we have elevated views of Barry Island in the near distance. I was told they chose mine because it’s a bit bigger.

“Once the deal was done, a production team came over a week or two later in a coach and about a dozen of the crew inspected the house from top to bottom.

“They come over for a week or two per series and take the place over. They put me up in a hotel nearby and pay me a modest amount for the use of my home.”

Huw Evans

Superfan tourists can even hitch a ride on the famous Dave’s Coaches[/caption]

Huw Evans

Visitors to Glenda’s home come to sit on the iconic sofa beloved by Gwen and Stacey[/caption]

She is coy about figures, but says she would have done it for nothing as she adores the show – and she never charges for fans to take a look.

Glenda, a grandmother, is always happy to invite them in so they can have a snoop around and take photos of each other sitting on the cosy cream leather sofa the characters sit on.

“They all want a snap of themselves sitting where Stacey sits when she’s at the family home,” says the owner of the three-bed property.

She said many of them have made the journey from Gavin’s home town Billericay in Essex – a round trip of almost 500 miles.

“I always let them in because I love the show too so I can understand their curiosity only too well,” she explains.

Nigel Iskander

The walls of Glenda’s famous home are covered in memorabilia from the show[/caption]

WNS

Fans on the show flocked to Glenda’s house to wish her a happy 70th birthday back in September 2023[/caption]

“The buggers are getting the address off the internet and coming over.

“It’s amazing how far some of these fans will travel for a nose round and a five minutes on the sofa.

“I’ve had quite a few driving all the way from Billericay, where Gavin’s character is from.

“They’re all ever so friendly and I don’t begrudge them a look round. We’re all fans round here, after all.”

And Glenda insists she is not yet feeling overwhelmed by the numbers of sight-seers she has turning up on her well-worn doorstep.

“Some days there will literally be a hundred people coming in through the day,” she said. “It’s incredible.

The show has made such a difference to my life – and to the town

Glenda Kenyon

“But some of them have made such an effort, I think it would be rude to turn them away.

“The only thing I insist on is that they take their shoes off before they come in. I love living here because of all the fans that come. It stops the loneliness.

When filming starts – usually it lasts up to two weeks per series – Mrs Kenyon has to move out to a local hotel, where her room and food is paid for by the production company.

“I treat my stays in the hotel as an annual holiday because I couldn’t afford one otherwise,” she says.

“I can’t wait to watch the Christmas show – I’m really excited.”

Town transformed

Outside, superfan Paul Williams is in Trinity Street after driving three hours from Shrewsbury.

He said: “I’ve come to visit number 47 with the Christmas special coming up and it being the last one they’ll ever do.

“This house is kind of the heart of the show and it’s just like it looks on the telly.”

Nigel Iskander

Paul Williams and his friend Zoe Carlo came down from Shrewsbury to give the iconic location a visit[/caption]

Huw Evans

Glenda’s signed cast photograph has pride of place in her home[/caption]

On the nearby beach front, where much of the show has also been filmed, we find Gavin and Stacey fan Chloe Davis, 33, a pub manager from Brighton who made a diversion on her way home from Cardiff to take in the famous sights.

She said: “I was in Cardiff for a work meeting, but while I’m here, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity of coming to Barry Island. It’s wonderful – just like it looks in the show.

“I’ve bought a few souvenirs and I’ve nipped in to the amusements arcade to play on the games. I checked online and found a map of all the places where they hang out. The beach is next.”

Nearby, Marco Zerascho, 66, owns the famous cafe – Marco’s Cafe – in the hit show. He revealed he has often served drinks and food to the stars of Gavin and Stacey at his eatery.

He said: “They first started coming in 17 years ago and they haven’t changed a bit. They’re more successful, but they’re the same people.

“I’ve just seen Larry Lamb cold water swimming in the sea out here. It was three degrees, and I said to him, ‘You must be mad’, and he replied – ‘Yep, you’ve got to be.’

“Afterwards, he and the friends he was with came in for a coffee – and some warmth. He said he was here for a few days, even though he’s not filming. He said he’s fallen in love with Barry so he comes back whenever he can.

“He comes here most mornings when he’s here and he’s just one of the guys.

People come here from all over the country, from Scotland to Cornwall

Sarah Howell

“Ruth Jones comes down here quite often too. I told her one morning when it was packed with people on the front, ‘Oh, Ruth, you can’t, it’s so busy down here, you’re going to get mobbed. Just wear some dark glasses and a false moustache.’ But she ignored me and came as she was… and got mobbed.

“She must have done more than 100 selfies. James Corden’s the same. He’d come down and spend hours doing selfies with the fans.

“The show and its stars have done wonders for Barry. We get tourism all year round as a result and that has led to more jobs for local people.

Nigel Iskander

Marco Zerascho owns the famous Marco’s cafe and has regularly served stars of the show[/caption]

Nigel Iskander

Retirees David Huntley and Ann Thomas visited Barry to take in the sights of the show[/caption]

Nigel Iskander

Business in the town has boomed since the show hit our screens[/caption]

“I mean, look at the location we’ve got. We’ve actually got a blue sea in November. It’s got the second highest tide in the world and the same dimensions as Bondi Beach.

“We’ve got this amazing, pristine, clean promenade. You know, you can sit here and if you squint, you think you’re in the South of France. It’s just a lovely place to come.

“I feel like a very, very lucky, privileged man to be a part of this.”

Retired teacher Ann Thomas and her friend, retired aviation engineer David Huntley, were in Barry Island to take in the sights from the famous TV show.

Ann said: “We love the area anyway but it’s the Gavin and Stacey element that makes it so special now. We’re here to enjoy the sunshine too and have a nice stroll on the beach.

“We can’t wait for the Christmas special.”

A PENSIONER left fighting for life after confronting a youth for vandalising a car has died of his injuries, police have confirmed.

Anthony Jacob, 75, had every bone in his face broken after being attacked outside his home in Weymouth, Dorset.

He went into cardiac arrest before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where he was placed in an induced coma in intensive care.

But his injuries were not survivable and he died on Thursday, nine days after the assault.

Tributes have been paid to Mr Jacob.

Pal Paula Hartley wrote: “Thoughts are with the family. He was a skilled tradesman who we had the pleasure of knowing for many years. Absolutely tragic.”

Laura Kennedy said: “Thoughts to Jake’s family and friends he was a lovely bloke.”

A 19-year-old man had already been charged with attempting to murder Mr Jacob.

Jake Saunders is also charged with three counts of assaulting an emergency worker, including an ambulance paramedic, and two counts of criminal damage to a Volkswagen Golf.

He has been remanded into custody and is next due to appear in court on January 9.

The investigation has now been taken on by Dorset Police‘s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT).

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Third said: “Following the sad death of Anthony Jacob, detectives from MCIT have now taken on this investigation.

“Specially trained officers are supporting the family during this difficult time.

“We are grateful to members of the public who have provided information to assist our enquiries so far, and I am continuing to appeal for any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to please make contact with us.”

The incident happened on Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth at 8.12pm on December 10.

BNPS

Police at the scene in Weymouth[/caption]

The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in some festive binge-watching, and what better way to enjoy the cozy atmosphere than by curling up with a classic or new Christmas movie? Whether you’re looking for a feel-good family film, a romantic holiday flick, or something a bit quirky, streaming services like Netflix, Prime ... Read more

The post 12 Best Christmas Movies to Stream on Netflix, Prime Video, and More This Holiday Season appeared first on AiTechtonic - Informative & Entertaining Text Media.

A DOCTOR saved thousands of women from certain death and the evil experiments of Dr Josef Mengele but her methods had catastrophic consequences.

Dr Gisella Perl was one of five doctors and four nurses selected by Dr Josef Mengele to work in the hospital ward at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War.

Giora Giora Itzhak Yardeni

Dr Gisella Perl was a Hungarian Jewish gynaecologist deported to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944[/caption]

Getty

The arrival of Hungarian Jews in Auschwitz-Birkenau, in German-occupied Poland in June 1944, a couple of months after Dr Perl and her family arrived at the camp[/caption]

Getty

Josef Mengele selected Dr Perl to be one of his doctors at the camp while he performed twisted experiments on inmates[/caption]

Mengele who became known as the “Angel of Death” infamously subjected prisoners of the camp to gruesome acts of torture through his twisted experiments that routinely ended in death.

Some of these included stitching two identical twins together, injecting people with diseases and chemicals, and experimenting with male and female genitalia.

Many of his sadistic experiments resulted in pregnancy with so-called patients being forced to have sex with each other in the name of science.

Prisoners had their teeth ripped out, organs removed, and their bone marrow extracted all without anaesthesia.

By his side for some of these horrors was Dr Perl who was living in Hungary and working as a gynecologist when Germany invaded in 1944.

Perl had been born into a Jewish family and was deported with her family to extermination camps – she arrived at Auschwitz in March 1944.

Her survival hinged on being forced to work as a doctor at the camp, under Mengele.

She treated inmates for a variety of issues including injuries from torture, diseases, broken bones, lice, starvation and infections.

But, there were no beds, bandages, drugs or instruments at her disposal.

Dr Perl later said, “I treated patients with my voice, telling them beautiful stories.”

The introduction to her 1948 book I Was a Doctor At Auschwitz states: “The tasks she was ordered to perform were unfathomable, defying every scientific and medical value, principle, and procedure.”

But, her work alongside Menegle in the day, led to her biggest acts of resistance at night.

Each night, Perl would sneak into barracks to secretly treat inmates to prevent them from being sent to the gas chambers or used for medical experiments.

She then took an even bigger risk after learning of the horrific truth about what Mengele did to pregnant women.

I decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz.

Dr Gisella Perldoctor at Auschwitz

It was a decision that challenged her morals, her professional values and skills as well as her religious beliefs.

In her book, she recalled that after Dr Mengele ordered her to inform him of every pregnant woman in the camp,

Mengele had initially told Perl and other women that those who were pregnant would be sent to another camp for better nutrition and milk.

So, expectant mothers went to him to get help for their unborn children.

EPA

A baby who was born at the extermination camp and photographed during the liberation[/caption]

Getty

At night, Dr Perl would risk her life to help the women in the barracks at Auschwitz with many of her surgeries and procedures taking place on the filthy floor[/caption]

AFP

Twins Lia Huber and Judith Barnea, who were subjected to Mengele’s experiments stand in front of pictures showing the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945[/caption]

But, Perl quickly learned that they were “all taken to the research block to be used as guinea pigs, and then two lives would be thrown into the crematorium,” she said.

From that moment on, she “decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz.”

The devout Jewish doctor resorted to doing whatever it took to try to save the lives of pregnant women in the camp, meaning she had to go against her beliefs and terminate pregnancies.

She was forced to do this by whatever means necessary, which saw the gynaecologist carry out abortions on the filthy floors and bunks of the barracks using only her hands and no pain relief.

Perl ended the lives of around 3,000 fetuses to try to see the mothers through the horrors of the extermination camp so they could perhaps one day bear children once they were free.

God, you owe me a life – a living baby.

Dr Gisella Perl

If a pregnancy was too far along, Perl manually induced labour meaning the premature baby would not survive.

It meant the women would be able to keep working in the camps and hope to delay or prevent their death sentences.

But, it was a sacrifice Perl lived with for the rest of her life and it hugely motivated her work after her liberation.

In her book, she stated: “No one will ever know what it meant to me to destroy those babies, but if I had not done it, both mother and child would have been cruelly murdered.”

She was transferred to Belsen which the British 11th Armoured Division liberated on April 15 1945.

Alamy

Children and medical personnel after the liberation by the Red Army[/caption]

Alamy

The newly freed doctor soon learned that her husband had been killed just before the liberation.

Her teenage son who was ripped from her arms when she was deported from Hungary had died in a gas chamber.

Both of her parents had also perished in extermination camps.

In 1947, she moved to New York City but was interrogated after officials believed she was part of the SS and played a key role in Mengele’s experiments.

It was only the testimonies of survivors that freed her, though deportation efforts continued.

SURVIVOR’S STORY

A survivor, only known as Ms B, spoke of her interaction with Perl in her testimony given to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany when she was 78 years old.

Ms B arrived at the camp in April 1944 and after a month in Barrack 10 her periods stopped, and like many female prisoners, she suffered from a horrific rash that they believe came from drugged food.

“First, pus-filled blisters appeared then turned into sores. In some cases, this rash [occurred] on both arms and my chest,” she recalled.

Every morning and night the women would be lined up and inspected with Dr Mengele making weekly visits to remove the weak and sick who would “never have been seen again.”

So, the women did their best to cover their bodies so their rashes and sores went unnoticed or “our life would be over,” Ms B recalled.

She said: “Dr. Gisella Perl assisted Dr. Mengele during the day.

“However, at night Dr. Perl came into the barrack and administered an ointment with a glue-like consistency to every sore in order to heal this horrific rash.

“Dr. Perl came periodically to Barrick No. 10 and also went to other barracks to administer this ointment.

“The rash needed several weeks to clear up; however, it would often return a few days later.”

“Without Dr. Perl’s medical knowledge and willingness to risk her life by helping us, it would be impossible to know what would have happened to me and to many other female prisoners,” she added.

Alamy

Former women prisoners on the wooden bunks that served as beds in Auschwitz which is often where Dr Perl carried out her procedures[/caption]

Getty

Survivors of Auschwitz leaving the camp at the end of World War II[/caption]

Getty

The words Arbeit Macht Frei seen on the arch mean ‘work sets you free’[/caption]

OWE A LIFE

After securing her freedom in America, Perl befriended Eleanor Roosevelt, who urged her to return to medicine which saw her become a gynaecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Over the following years, she delivered over 3,000 babies and always uttered the same words every time she entered the delivery ward: “God, you owe me a life – a living baby.”

In 1979 she moved to Herzliya, Israel with her daughter and grandson, whom she had reunited with.

She died aged 81 on December 16, 1988, and was remembered by The Jerusalem Post as “The Angel of Auschwitz.”

Six million men, women, and children were killed in the Holocaust, an unimaginable tragedy marked each year on Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.

Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE, the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust told the Sun:

“What Dr Gisella Perl did during the Holocaust will forever be a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of compassion, even in the darkest of times.

“With extraordinary courage and selflessness, she used her medical expertise to save the lives of countless women, risking her own safety to bring hope where none seemed possible.

“In a vast and complex world, it is easy to feel powerless, question our ability to create change, or believe we lack the time or energy to make a difference.

“Yet, Dr Perl’s legacy reminds us that a single person can profoundly impact others, even in the face of unimaginable hardship.”

International Universities Press

Dr Perl wrote her book soon after the war, revealing the horrors of the extermination camp and the truth of Mengele’s work[/caption]

Yale Garber Publishers

Dr Perl continued her work as a gynaecologist after her liberation and helped deliver over 3,000 babies[/caption]

Getty

Six million Jews died in World War Two under Hitler’s regime[/caption]

LUKE LITTLER’S had an incredible 2024 – and his parents have been with him every step of the way.

Here we take a look at the darts prodigy’s parents Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler as Luke targets the 2024/25 World Darts Championship.

Twitter

Luke Littler with his parents Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler[/caption]

Who are Luke Littler’s Parents?

Luke Littler‘s parents are Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler.

As well as being his parents, Anthony and Lisa are The Nuke’s biggest fans.

They have supported Luke in his darts career since he was in nappies.

Luke’s parents helped him progress in the sport by giving him access to a “proper” dart board — and taking him to the pub to practice.

• Follow the Darts LIVE and read all the latest news from the sport as it happens

What do Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler do?

Luke’s dad Anthony is a taxi driver from Warrington, Cheshire.

And his mum Lisa is employed at a shop selling scented candles.

Speaking about Luke’s progression in the sport, Buckley told The Times: “He was a good footballer. He loved football. All kids do. But I said to him at nine, hang your boots up.

“Concentrate on darts. You can still play football here and there. But if there’s a darts comp on at the weekends, go to darts first.

“Make that your priority, because I thought he could make it at darts — and he has done.”

“When I said to him, you need to keep playing darts, he was OK with it. We put him in every competition that was online.

“Sometimes you’re getting up at 7am on a Saturday — my only day off — just to play darts. There were no lie-ins.”

What age are Luke Littler’s parents?

At the time of writing, Luke’s dad Anthony is 43 years old.

And his mum Lisa is currently 40 years old.

Her social media is like a shrine to her son’s incredible achievements at the oche.

She was the one who released the brilliant video of 18-month-old Luke giggling and throwing darts at a board while wearing a nappy.

When he first came as a kid you could see he was very special and he just got better and better. Every year he was a bit better than the last.

Karl Holden

Are his parents Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler involved in his Darts career?

In December 2023 footage emerged of Littler as an 18-month-old toddler throwing darts at a magnetic board.

It was bought for him by his dad Anthony Buckley, who was also a casual darts player himself.

Littler’s technique was there for all to see — even as a nappy-wearing youngster.

Just over seven years later he began training at the famous St Helens Darts Shop — which has helped improve professional darts players including Michael Smith, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting.

Luke’s boyhood coach Karl Holden, who trained him at the shop located northeast of Liverpool city centre, revealed he was obliterating his opponents from the age of nine.

He said: “He has been coming here since he was nine. We are all very proud.

“When he first came as a kid you could see he was very special and he just got better and better. Every year he was a bit better than the last.

“We put him up to the U14s when he was nine, but three months after that he was smashing all them to bits.”

He added: “At nine he was good. Before he was 11 he was extremely good.

“He’s a freak of nature, honestly, he really is. I’d say he’s the (Cristiano) Ronaldo of darts.

“He is one of the best players in the world at the age of 16.”

By the age of 11 he was playing against grown men and beating them.

The following year, he came up against Humphries — who he faced in the world championship final, ultimately losing 7-4 — at a competition on Hayling Island.

The meeting came in November 2019 as Humphries, now 28, clinched the victory over Littler.

At the time, Littler posted: “Lost out in quarter-finals last night at Hayling Island competition to Luke Humphries, missed a few chances to go ahead and a bull for a 164 but gave him a great game.”

Discussing his remarkable success with the BBC, Littler said: “By the age of four I got on to the proper board. From 18 months on I have been non-stop.

“When we moved to Warrington when I was eight or nine we started going out to pubs four to five times a week.”

Littler has gained plenty of new supporters since his astonishing rise to fame, but his dad Anthony has always been his No.1 fan.

Responding to a post from Junior Darts Co on social media, Anthony wrote in 2017: “Watch out for 10-year-old Luke Littler this year!”

And Luke’s mum and dad were at Ally Pally supporting his astonishing run in the 2023/24 PDC World Darts Championship.

Speaking after his victory over Campbell, Littler said: “I started crying when I saw my mum in the crowd.

“She was nervous. I saw her with her head in her hands. I said to her: ‘The dream continues.’ She said the same thing.”

Littler is due to compete in the Darts Premier League 2024, having earned his spot in the lineup following his superb run at the World Championships at the start of the year.

A BRITISH girl was killed by a boat propeller while on a school trip in the Maldives.

Jenna Chan, 15, died in the horror snorkelling accident while assisting the British registered charity, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), in its research expedition.

British-Singaporean dual national Jenna was a student at St Joseph’s International Institution.

On November 8, Jenna was allegedly beckoned into the water but within minutes was “sucked under” when the engine was switched on.

Her parents have said that more than a month after the tragic incident they are “still waiting for answers”.

Alan Chan and Jennifer Liauw claim they had been able to contact their beloved daughter during the trip due to a school policy of removing phones during the expedition.

A report by the Maldives police service seen by The Times confirmed: “On 8th November 2024, during [an] excursion while snorkelling between Lux Maldives Resort and Dhidoo, an incident occurred and Miss Jenna [Chan] was struck by the boat’s propellers.”

Maldivian officials was unable to offer the family a post-mortem examination of the body.

The family also claim they have not been shown any witness statements from teachers and students who were with the 15-year-old at the time of her death.

They believe there was “no real investigation” into the accident, adding that there was a “chain of errors” throughout the excursion, they claim.

Jenna’s 17-year-old sister Alice has started a GoFundMe to raise awareness over the teen’s accident and help with legal fees while the family fight for answers.

The caption for the fundraiser reads: “My sister, 15 year old British-Singaporean Jenna Chan, was killed in a propeller accident during a school trip in the Maldives.

“There has been silence from the Maldivian government and all news about her has ceased. 

“The circumstances leading to her sudden death and negligence of the company is truly shocking to our family and her teenage friends, who witnessed her death.

“Please help support us during this tough time for our family and loved ones, and spread the word about her case. 

“All donations will go towards our fight for Jenna and protection of all future children and tourists, by providing our Maldivian lawyers with the legal fees and financial support to take more cases just like this one.”

So far, £4,600 of its £10,000 has been raised.

Jenna was laid to rest on November 15 in Singapore.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British national who died in the Maldives and are in contact with the local authorities.”

GoFundMe

It has been over a month since Jenna tragically died[/caption]

LUKE LITTLER has a hugely supportive family around him including sister Caitlin – and she’ll be cheering him on at the World Darts Championship!

Here we take a look at his sister Caitlin, her social media presence and what she’s said about her younger brother.

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Caitlin Littler regularly posts about her brother Luke’s darts achievements on social media[/caption]

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Caitlin has amassed almost 30,000 followers on TikTok[/caption]

Who is Luke Littler’s sister Caitlin Littler?

Caitlin Littler is the older sister of darts prodigy Luke ‘The Nuke” Littler.

She can often be seen cheering Luke on at the darts tournaments he competes in, and her social media accounts are filled with content about her brother’s impressive accomplishments.

Caitlin has maintained a low profile and keeps personal information about herself out of the public spotlight, so very little is known about what she does for a career.

Luke and Caitlin also have two brothers, Leon and Harry, who have been spotted in the crowd cheering him on too.

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What has Caitlin said about her brother Luke Littler?

Caitlin regularly shares her pride about Luke’s achievements on social media.

Speaking after Littler’s heartbreaking defeat in the final of the 2023-24 PDC World Darts Championship, she wrote: “So unbelievably proud of what you have achieved, absolutely unreal.

“You went into this only wanting to win one game to then make it to the finals on your debut at 16 is the biggest achievement!

“We all love you so much, now time to chill and enjoy yourself.”

On her Instagram account, along with a video of Luke checking out against Darryl Pilgrim in style with two consecutive bullseyes in the Modus Super Series in May 2023, she posted: “Gutted I couldn’t be there but never been so proud of someone, so much love.”

And in August 2023 after Luke won his second Super Series, Caitlin said: “Speechless he’s done it again! Never EVER been more proud of someone, what a night!

“You just continue to amaze us all everyday we all love you so much, keep smashing it.”

Is Caitlin Littler on social media?

Yes, Caitlin is on social media.

Her handle on Instagram is @cait.littler, where she has over 11,000 followers.

On TikTok she goes by @caitlittlerx and has amassed 27,500 followers.

Caitlin also has a Facebook profile.

CHRIS CANTY believes Patrick Mahomes is in the same class as NBA and NFL royalty – because of his desire to play through injury.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is set to suit up against the Houston Texans despite suffering from a high ankle sprain.

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Patrick Mahomes celebrates during the Chiefs win over the Cleveland Browns[/caption]

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The NFL star has been compared with NBA legend Michael Jordan[/caption]

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Chris Canty made the claims on Friday’s edition of First Take[/caption]

Mahomes limped out of the Chiefs 20-7 win over the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.

The 28-year-old was replaced in the fourth quarter by backup Carson Wentz.

But Mahomes has surprised coach Andy Reid by powering through the pain – and will start against the Texans.

“I’ve been through it with him before, and he amazes me every time he does it,” Reid said of his star QB.

“That guy, he’s so mentally tough. It’s just a mindset he has going into it.

“So where he was a few days ago, yeah, I’d probably say it was a long shot. But he’s done well with it.”

Canty joined Stephen A. Smith and Cam Newton on Friday’s First Take to discuss Mahomes’ remarkable desire to get out on the field.

“This is a situation right now where Patrick Mahomes is the Michael Jordan of the NFL,” Canty declared.

“He is Tom Brady from what we saw over the last two decades.

“If those two players went to their respective head coaches and said they wanted to play, they will play.

“Period. There is no question about it.”

Canty used the infamous ‘Flu Game’ as an example, when Jordan played through illness to inspire the Chicago Bulls to playoff victory in 1997.

“Are we going to claim we didn’t see Tom Brady in the 2020 season playing through a torn MCL?” he added.

“Patrick Mahomes is in that ilk.

“If that dude says he’s going to go out there and play, guess what? He’s going to play.”

“He calls the shots,” added Stephen A.

Mahomes has led the Chiefs to 13-1 on the regular season going into Saturday’s game with the Texans.

Kansas City is targeting a historic threepeat, with no NFL team ever winning three consecutive Super Bowls.

“This may be true although that’s probably still a little premature in that Mahomes is still relatively young and Brady has seven SB wins!!!” wrote one fan on X in response to Canty’s claim.

“He’s the Lebron James of the NFL. Tom Brady is MJ,” countered another.

“Chris told no lies,” said a third.