"We absolutely love the darts": Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood on walk-on girl exit

Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood are now, in their own words, "the ex-walk on girls of darts".

The pair were regular fixtures on the PDC circuit before the decision was taken at the start of the year to stop including walk-on girls at televised events. The PDC ruling caused more than its fair share of controversy. Top players entered the debate, and even Barry Hearn was baffled. Allfree and Wood led the protests, and received plenty of backing on social media. But more than six months on from the acrimonious split, no bitterness remains.
"We're still getting booked for exhibitions which means we're still part of the darts, it's nice because we get to see the fans and the players, even if it's not on TV," said Wood when she and Allfree sat down for an interview with Live Darts.
That love brings a tinge of sadness with it; the World Matchplay recently came and went without a walk-on girl in sight.
"For me it's just got a bit sadder. I really miss Blackpool, and when that tournament came round I just thought 'oh my God'" said Allfree.

Widespread support

The decision, following talks with broadcasters, was abrupt. Having had Hearn's backing, it was a surprise that walk-on girls were axed from future events. What Allfree and Wood touched upon most was the reaction of the fans, many of whom actively petitioned to bring walk-on girls back. A fan-backed petition, signed by the likes of Raymond van Barneveld, garnered 48,704 signatures.
"It was incredible, the support. We didn't expect it to explode like it did. I can't believe it got 50,000 signatures, people were wanting us back, and it was really nice," said Wood.
"Even now we talk to players at exhibitions and they're sad that we're not there."
Despite the support, it became clear that the situation would not change - something which Allfree acknowledged early on. While she accepted the decision, the manner in which it was done left a sour taste.
"I never thought it would be reversed. Once a decision like that had been made, I didn't think we'd be coming back. It was just so nice to have that support, and to get the petition up to 50,000 [signatures].
"We never got a formal [notice], even like a statement on social media to say 'thanks for the six years'. People ask all the time why it happened, we don't really know."
Wood also pointed out some hypocrisy from the TV executives who hastened their exit.
"It's ITV and Sky who have dropped the walk-on girls, but ITV are still showing them. It might be in a different country, but they're still streaming them on ITV," she pointed out.

"It's a brilliant show still"

But the pair haven't lingered on it. Instead, they're seeing the positives.
"One big positive is that we've got our social lives back. We sacrificed a lot for the darts - Christmases, birthdays - so it has been nice to sit back and be at home a bit more," Allfree said.
Wood added: "Although we weren't with our families, we were together, and we're best friends anyway. We were doing something we loved. Thousands of girls that would have loved to have been in our position. We were privileged to do it. We won't have anything bad to say about the job, because there's nothing bad to say about it."
As well as continuing their modelling careers, the pair are being kept busy with bookings, many of which are for darts events. Both are delighted to still have a place on the darting stage in some regard, and consider themselves darts fans.
"We were a part of it for so long, and we did get really involved in it," Wood said.
Allfree chimed in: "We absolutely love the darts!"
"It was a big part of our lives, we loved the players. It's actually quite nice to be on the other side of the TV and seeing it, it's a brilliant show still. We were privileged to be a part of it, it will always be dear to us.
"We got a massive following from the darts, which has massively helped us in our careers."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9yx4OABclI