ITV was compelled to issue an on-screen apology during Sunday’s Winmau World Darts Masters final after spectators launched into an explicit chant targeting Sir Keir Starmer.

The crowd at the showpiece event between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries repeatedly sang “Keir Starmer’s a w***er” to the unmistakable melody of The White Stripes’ 2003 hit Seven Nation Army.

The broadcaster displayed a message stating: “We apologise for any offensive language.”

This marks the latest in a series of incidents where sports fans have directed the derogatory song at the Prime Minister, who has held office since 2024.

The 19-year-old world champion prevailed 6-5 against former title holder Humphries in what proved to be a closely contested final at Arena MK in Milton Keynes.

Littler, who has established himself as the dominant force in major darts competitions, navigated several challenging matches en route to the showpiece event at the newly revamped World Masters.

The chanting occurred on multiple occasions during the match, ultimately prompting ITV to display their apologetic message during the fourth set of the final.

This was far from an isolated occurrence, with similar scenes unfolding at multiple sporting fixtures over the past year.

During the World Grand Prix late last year, the chant erupted during Danny Noppert’s contest against Stephen Bunting, forcing Sky Sports to mask the audio with generic crowd noise.

The broadcaster faced the same predicament at the World Darts Championship final, where the song rang out just legs into Littler’s clash with Gian van Veen.

England football supporters have also embraced the chant, with it clearly audible during the Three Lions’ 3-0 triumph over Wales at Wembley Stadium in October.

Television networks have found it increasingly difficult to prevent the song reaching live audiences.

The chanting coincides with polling that paints a bleak picture for the Prime Minister’s standing with the public.

A BMG Research survey has revealed that Sir Keir’s net satisfaction rating has plunged to a record low of minus 49.

More than half of respondents indicated they would prefer a different leader at the helm of the Labour Party.

Even those who backed Labour at the 2024 General Election have soured on the PM, registering a net satisfaction score of minus 9 according to early-2026 data.

Among those seeking change, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has emerged as the favoured alternative, commanding 24 per cent support.