In the glittering whirlwind that is Luke Littler’s life, where 180s echo like thunder and world titles stack up like beer mats at a rowdy pub, the 18-year-old darts prodigy just notched a win that has nothing to do with treble beds or double-outs. On a crisp November day in Warrington, “The Nuke” – as his fans affectionately dub the laser-guided phenom – aced his practical driving test on the very first go, clocking in with a flawless zero driving faults. It’s the kind of precision that would make even Phil Taylor tip his cap, but for Littler, this milestone feels like the ultimate bullseye after a saga of near-misses and mounting frustration. And amid the cheers, it was his girlfriend, the quick-witted Faith Millar, who fired off a four-word zinger that had the internet in stitches, turning a simple pass into a viral love letter on wheels.
Let’s rewind the tape on this bumpy backroad to freedom. Littler’s ascent to darts immortality kicked off in earnest last winter, when the then-teenager stormed Alexandra Palace to snatch the PDC World Championship from under Michael van Gerwen’s nose in a nail-biting 7-4 final. At just 16, he became the youngest winner in history, pocketing a cool £500,000 and catapulting himself into a realm of superstardom that saw him snag majors like the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. But even as the prize money rolled in – now totaling over £1.5 million – one dream stayed firmly in neutral: hitting the open road. Littler had already splashed out on his first set of wheels, a sleek Mercedes A-Class that whispered promises of independence in a life dominated by tour buses and dad-taxi runs. “I haven’t had driving lessons yet because it’s been so hectic,” he confessed earlier this year, his Warrington accent laced with that trademark cheek. “But I’m going to have to do it before I get into my twenties when it’ll be too late and I can’t be bothered.” Little did he know, the real roadblock wasn’t the oche – it was the theory test, a bureaucratic beast that hounded him like a stubborn opponent refusing to bust.
Oh, the theory test – that digital gauntlet of multiple-choice mind-melters and hazard-perception pop-ups. Littler, whose brain seems wired for calculating angles on a dartboard at 50 paces, slammed into it like a wayward arrow. Six attempts, six heartbreaks. The first few were chalked up to his whirlwind schedule, jetting between tournaments and dodging the fine print of road rules amid the roar of adoring crowds. By the fifth flop, he was posting rueful updates on Instagram, captioning a snapshot of his latest near-miss with “5th time and counting…” – a score of 41 out of 50 on the multiple-choice section, agonizingly two marks shy of victory. Fans rallied like they would for a comeback leg, flooding his comments with memes of Littler “treble-topping” the hazard clips. “Mate, just visualize the board,” one quipped. But the sixth? That was the charm, scraped through on the seventh overall try, clearing the way for the practical. With lessons squeezed into rare downtime, thanks to instructor Colin Price’s patient guidance, Littler finally revved up for the big day.
November 3 dawned like any other in the Cheshire town that birthed a legend – gray skies, the hum of motorways, and the faint buzz of anticipation. At the Warrington test center, Littler gripped the wheel with the same steely focus he brings to the throwing line. No maneuvers mangled, no mirrors missed, no maneuvers that veered into farce. Zero faults. Pure, unadulterated excellence. The news broke like a maximum, first via the Colin Price Driving School’s Instagram blast: “Congratulations to Luke Littler on passing his driving test today at Warrington on his first attempt with ZERO driving faults absolutely Amazing achievement well done now enjoy that car.” Littler, ever the showman, reshared it with his own triumphant yelp: “Get innnn. First time and 0 minors.” The post exploded, racking up likes from fellow pros like Gerwyn Price and fans who saw it as the cherry on a year of dominance. Now ranked world No. 2, just a whisker behind Luke Humphries, Littler can finally pilot himself to Wolverhampton this weekend for the Grand Slam of Darts – where he’s the defending champ after obliterating Martin Lukeman 16-3 in last year’s final. No more traffic-jam tantrums, like the one that saw him fume on social media after arriving two minutes late to a Players Championship event and getting locked out. “One rule for one and one for another,” he griped then, a rare flash of the teenager behind the titan.
But the real spark in this story? Enter Faith Millar, the 22-year-old beautician whose bubbly vibe and sharp tongue have been Littler’s off-stage anchor since they went public over the summer. While the darts world toasted his pass with respectful nods – “Flawless as your checkouts, lad,” from one pundit – Millar cut straight to the heart with her signature sass. Reposting the school’s announcement on her Instagram story, she overlaid it with a cheeky four-word message: “Don’t crash my baby.” It’s the perfect blend of pride and playful possession, a nod to the Merc that’s as much hers in spirit as his, and a wink at the couple’s easy chemistry that’s endeared them to fans. Millar, with her cascade of blonde curls and infectious laugh, has been a fixture in Littler’s corner, cheering from the stands at Ally Pally and sharing glimpses of their low-key life – kebab runs after late-night wins, cozy date nights amid the chaos. Their romance, confirmed amid the glow of his World Matchplay triumph, feels like a fairy tale with a Geordie twist: the boy wonder and his grounded glam, proving that even darts royalty needs a co-pilot. “He’s just Luke to me,” she once shared in a rare interview, brushing off the hype. But that four-word quip? It’s pure gold, capturing the joy of watching her man level up without the pressure of a £250,000 pot on the line.
This driving debut caps a chapter of grit for Littler, whose meteoric rise hasn’t been without its skid marks. From a 16-year-old outsider mocked for his kebab-fueled training regimen to a multimillionaire icon with sponsorships from Target Darts to Xbox, he’s navigated fame’s fast lane with a maturity that belies his years. Yet, the theory-test tribulations humanized him – reminders that even the kid who averages 100+ can’t 180 every hurdle. Now, with keys in hand, the horizon stretches wide. That Mercedes A-Class awaits, though whispers suggest he’s eyeing upgrades, perhaps a Volkswagen for that first “sensible” spin. Either way, it’s freedom on four wheels, a chance to blast tunes en route to the next showdown, maybe even sneak in a drive-thru detour with Faith shotgun, plotting their next adventure.
As the Grand Slam looms, with a tasty opener against Jeffrey de Graaf and a potential semi-final clash with Humphries, Littler’s got the momentum. But today’s win? It’s the personal 501 that hits different – a checkout for the everyday battles. In a sport where glory is measured in legs and legacy in majors, passing your test feels like leveling up to god mode. And with Faith’s wry warning ringing in his ears, one thing’s clear: The Nuke’s not just hitting wires anymore; he’s owning the road. Buckle up, darts world – Luke Littler’s just getting started.
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