Big shoes to fill: Owen Binks steps up to replace the legendary George Noble on PDC circuit

Owen Binks is set to step into senior on stage refereeing duties within the PDC, following the retirement of George Noble at the conclusion of the recent World Darts Championship.

While no standalone announcement has yet been published through the PDC’s official channels, Binks’ promotion has been widely reported within darts circles and comes in the wake of Noble’s retirement following the World Championship final.

Although new to a senior on stage role, Owen Binks is a well established figure within the professional darts environment. He has spent several years working across the circuit primarily behind the scenes, operating as an official and spotter at a wide range of PDC events.

In that capacity, Binks was closely involved in matches at the highest level, working within the fast paced, high pressure and often noisy environment of major televised arenas. The role of a spotter is a critical one in modern broadcasts, requiring constant awareness of scores, rapid calculation and a detailed understanding of match flow to support referees and production teams alike.

That background has given Binks prolonged exposure to elite level darts without the visibility of the stage, a pathway that has increasingly been favoured within the PDC’s internal officiating structure.

While much of his work to date has taken place off camera, Binks is not stepping into refereeing cold. He has already officiated on stage at the MODUS Super Series, gaining practical experience of match control, communication and authority in front of live audiences.

That experience is understood to have played an important role in his progression, with the move viewed as a natural step rather than a sudden promotion.

Binks follows in the footsteps of George Noble, whose retirement brought an end to one of the longest and most recognisable refereeing careers in modern darts. Noble’s calm presence and distinctive delivery made him a fixture on the sport’s biggest stages for more than three decades.

His departure marked the close of a significant chapter in PDC officiating, while also creating space for a new generation of officials to step forward.

With a packed calendar of televised tournaments, floor events and majors ahead, Binks is expected to be introduced quickly into on stage duties. His extensive experience behind the scenes is likely to ease that transition, having already worked alongside referees, players and broadcast teams at the highest level.

The move underlines the PDC’s continued emphasis on internal development within its officiating ranks, ensuring continuity and consistency as long serving figures step aside.