ITV issues apology after darts fans chant about Sir Keir Starmer
ITV has been forced to apologise to viewers after darts fans at the UK Open loudly sang about Sir Keir Starmer during Luke Littler’s championship match with James Wade, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister endured a weekend of public hostility, with darts spectators at Butlin’s Minehead Resort directing chants at him during Sunday’s final. The crowd’s vocal displeasure culminated in the audible singing of “Keir Starmer’s a w****r” during the match.
In response, ITV issued an apology during its coverage for the foul language. The situation reflects broader criticism of the Prime Minister, which has not been confined to sporting venues; protests in London also expressed dissatisfaction with his leadership.
Amidst this hostility, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, suggesting that Sir Keir is “not Winston Churchill” after the Prime Minister initially hesitated to authorise U.S. military strikes against Iran from British bases. The U.S. had requested permission to use UK facilities, including Diego Garcia, to conduct operations targeting Iranian positions following drone attacks in the region.
On Sunday, Sir Keir eventually agreed to permit American aircraft to undertake “specific and limited defensive purposes” from British soil. Despite this concession, President Trump expressed disappointment with the British response to the crisis, while Iranian demonstrators in London voiced their displeasure, calling for more decisive British involvement against the Iranian regime.
The hostile chanting towards Sir Keir has become a recurring feature at darts events; similar scenes were witnessed during the World Championship at Alexandra Palace over the last holiday season. Fans at various tournaments have repeatedly chanted crude slogans about the Prime Minister.
On the oche, Littler successfully defended his UK Open crown, defeating Wade 11-7 in a rematch of last year’s final, which he had won more convincingly at 11-2. This victory allows him to join an elite group of players who have secured back-to-back UK Open titles, alongside the likes of Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen.
For Wade, this defeat marks a fifth appearance in a UK Open final as he sought a fourth title, underscoring the tension between personal ambition and public sentiment in a sport that has increasingly intertwined itself with political narratives.
