Phil Taylor responds to I’m A Celebrity link as darts icon tipped for ITV show.
Phil Taylor has retired from darts and is already the early favourite for I’m A Celebrity, but has quashed the prospect of featuring this year, but would be open to it in the future
Phil Taylor claims he’d be keen on a stint on I’m A Celebrity – but not this year as he laughed off his early favouritism.
The darts icon has officially retired at the age of 64 after a career that marked him out as the greatest of all time. He’s now weighing up what to do next with his family a big motivator in his decision to call it a day.
A spell in the popular ITV show had been rumoured and already bookies were making him the early favourite before any official contestants had been announced. Taylor was shocked by that but opened the door to potentially get involved later down the line.
He said: “I’d be interested but not this year, it’s too late. Someone mentioned I was the favourite in the bookies but I said ‘I have no idea how’.”
The Power also shed light on his retirement as he told TalkSPORT: “I’m retired now, properly retired. I’m just going to do some personal appearances. How do I know? My eyes started going a few years ago then my hip went and then the travelling.
“You’re away from home four-five days a week and it’s good for money but it’s not good for your family. My mind is still in my teens but my body is 90.”
Taylor’s career saw him rack up 214 tournament wins which included 14 World Championships. The Power won his first World Championship in 1990, three years after becoming a professional player. His dominance then began in the mid 1990s as he won eight titles on the bounce, beginning in 1995. He won his last World Championship in 2013.
Now there is talk of him mentoring the sport’s latest sensation – Luke Littler. The teenager has already transcended his sport, attracting new fans, and Taylor would be keen on teaming up.
He added: “With young Luke, they have asked me if I would sit down with him. I said, ‘Of course, I will’. But I would have to go and live with him for a few days, see what he is all about. I know young Luke, we have the same sponsor. If I spent time with him, I would see how he practises, see how he eats and exercises, how he does anything.
“If he’s playing on those PlayStations, I would give him a set time, an hour a night or something, and then get ready for the next day. Make sure you aren’t staying up late and wake up in the morning and you are shattered.
I have seen that many, many times – players who will have a drink afterwards, they get into the drinking and then they aren’t getting to bed until 1am or 2am.”