Former World Matchplay winner Peter Evison went from an amateur contestant to a pro on TV staple Bullseye

Peter Evison surprisingly won the 1996 World Matchplay by defeating Dennis Priestley in the final. However, he made his debut with the general public on a TV show.

Evison was still an amateur player when he was allowed to compete on the legendary TV program "Bullseye," which was shown on ITV between 1981 and 1995. In that program, teams of two players and quiz fans competed for money and prizes. The show, presented by Jim Bowen, also featured appearances by professional players, who participated in a charity round.

“I used to make double-glazing windows,” he recalled. “A friend of mine at work asked if I fancied going on Bullseye. I thought, ‘Why not?’ We passed the audition and got on. However, he couldn’t answer the £100 question. The ones next to us answered it, and then their £100 question too. They jumped in front of us and we got kicked out because we didn’t get the question right."

Peter Evison won the World Matchplay in 1996

“Jim said, ‘We’ll probably see you next year’. And I was back on as a pro the following year. I don’t believe that happened another time. I know Alan Warriner was on it and then went back on [as a pro] about four years later. But mine was a year later.

Read also

"Afterwards he didn’t even say a word to me" - Peter Evison recalls stunning Phil Taylor en route to World Matchplay title in 1996

“I was on it for about five years. I got a score of 300 once [in the nine-dart charity round], 323, 280 with a bounce out, 260 and 285, I think. I enjoyed it and you got paid for going on too. I got 400 quid [per appearance]. I know Jim Bowen was getting 10 grand a show!

Evison, of course, also had behind-the-scenes access. “I’d go in the VIP room with them and have a drink before we started. Jim was a bit of a lad and the banter was flying around. He’d be winding the crowd up and would take the mickey a lot. That’s what it’s all about.”