Darts icon Phil Taylor reveals what Freddie Flintoff whispered in his ear live on BBC when he came runner-up at SPOTY
DARTS legend Phil Taylor reveals Freddie Flintoff whispered in his ear after he came runner-up in Sports Personality of the Year.
The Power had a year to remember in 2010 as he secured an incredible 15th world title.
He even hit two nine darters on his way to winning Premier League Darts, while he also won the World Matchplay, the UK Open, and the European Championship.
But those accomplishments were not enough for Taylor to claim SPOTY too, as he came second behind jockey AP McCoy with just over 10 per cent of the vote.
Taylor, 64, still had his fair share of supporters, including Flintoff who told him as such by whispering in his ear at the ceremony.
Taylor recalled, telling the Mirror: “Freddie Flintoff (who presented his trophy) slapped me on the back and whispered ‘you should have won it’.
“I’m going to have to see the doctor as I think he broke three ribs!”
Taylor brushed shoulders with some of the biggest names in sport at the awards show, including David Beckham.
He said of his interaction with the former England captain: ““He came up and said, ‘Hiya Phil, how’s the kids, I hear you had a little grandson last week’.
“I thought ‘What, how does he know me?’ It’s weird. I’m like ‘Dave, wow, can I kiss you?'”
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Taylor was the last darts star to be nominated for SPOTY before Luke Littler made the shortlist this year.
He could become the second-youngest winner of the award but the teen is just happy to have boosted the popularity of darts.
Littler said: “It’s been an amazing year and to be in the running for Young Sports Personality of the Year tops it off.
“If I’ve brought more fans to darts, then that’s all that matters to me.”