Former darts presenter Clark on reason for podcast return: "Because of Covid I never got a chance to say goodbye"

Former Sky Sports Darts presenter, Dave Clark will soon make a comeback to the sport albeit in podcast form as opposed to on TV.

Clark who presented on Sky Sports for 20 years decided to stop last year while he still had a choice with the effects of living and working with Parkinson's Disease hindering his work.

But while he left the sport, he admitted it has been tough to watch it ever since and see new presenters fill his shoes which has included Nigel Pearson and now Emma Paton.

“It’s hard to see darts now. It’s like watching your wife smooching with another man live on TV. I’m just weaning myself back on to it now, it took a while for me to watch it." said Clark to Oche.

“It will be nice to do the podcast. Because of Covid I never got a chance to say goodbye to my work colleagues of over 20 years.

“It was quite weird because the last darts I did was on stage in Liverpool in March last year and I didn’t realise that would be the last show I’d do.

“I’d got it in my mind I wasn’t too far off the end. But I thought I’d get through the Premier League and be OK and then Covid struck.

“I was doing darts for 20 years, the first World Championship I did was 2001 and the last 10 years with Parkinson’s.

Guests on the podcast

Returning to the podcast, it was duly noted that he will have Helen Chamberlain involved in the opening episode but there will also be ones with those behind the scenes who may not have told their stories.

“The podcast is a nice way of talking to people about the journey, a few good stories. I’m going to do six with one a week to start with and I might do a new series, I’ll see. I’ve got a studio at home now.

“Helen Chamberlain has done the first one, I recorded that this morning. She was brilliant. We have history in the sport together because she did the interviews in Bolton and Blackpool. It was a really good laugh.

“We are going to talk about various issues over the years and current stuff.

“I’ve done one with the producer of darts Rory Hopkins. No one has ever spoken to him yet he’s the most influential man in darts over the years you’ve never heard of.

“He came up with Michael van Gerwen’s walk-on tune, that White Stripes song changed Michael’s life. It was Rory’s decision to use Chase The Sun which was ear worm for two decades. Everywhere you went everyone sung that tune.

“Rory also put the thunderclaps in Phil Taylor’s I’ve Got The Power walk-on. Incredible influence over iconic parts of the sport.

“I’ve also talked to Sid Waddell’s son Dan talking about his partnership with Dave Lanning. It’s just great stories from people I’ve met on this incredible darting journey. Undoubtedly the best years of my life.”