The festive season is well and truly underway but there is some more Christmas cheer on the horizon for darts lovers.

The PDC World Darts Championship begins on Thursday at Alexandra Palace with teenage sensation Luke Littler looking to defend his crown.

And ahead of the Ally Pally action Littler is at the forefront of a new Sky Sports advert to get fans in the mood for the tournament.

Trying to get into the fictional 'Club 180' club, Littler tries and fails to get in the establishment after being rejected on the door by social media star Big John.

However, the 18-year-old is denied by a clerical error from Tottenham star, and darts fanatic, James Maddison who forgets to put 'The Nuke' on the guestlist.

Despite that clerical error, Maddison still has another job at Club 180 with manning the cloakroom.

Iconic commentator Wayne Mardle is serving drinks behind the bar and lives up to his 'Hawaii 501' nickname with his flamboyant shirt at his cocktail bar.

And for entertainment at Club 180, Mr Brightside himself Nathan Aspinall is seen spinning the decks behind the DJ booth, while Stephen Bunting rehearses his signature walk-on to the dancefloor ahead of the Worlds.

However, the night was brought to a premature end when Littler claimed his revenge, pulling the plug on the launch and plunging the stars inside into complete darkness.

Littler will be hoping it won't be lights out for him when the tournament gets underway. In a change from recent years, all players will enter the tournament in round one.

The English No 1 begins the defence of his world title against Darius Labanauskas - with the Lithuanian a quarter-finalist in 2020.

'My form says that I could beat anyone right now,' admitted Littler, who is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson by retaining the sport's biggest crown.

'Ten years ago, Gary Anderson won back-to-back titles, and 10 years later, I'm standing here as the current champion and I'm looking to go back-to-back myself.

'I've got that No 1 spot now and hopefully I can have another tournament to remember this time around.'

The 33rd staging of the World Championship - which will take place from December 11 to January 3 - will feature an expanded 128-player field, as darts' biggest names from across the globe compete to lift the iconic Sid Waddell Trophy.

This year's festive feast of darts also includes a staggering prize fund of £5m - including an incredible £1million prize to the winner.