"He’s just messing around, swearing, drink on stage—it’s such a laugh" - Steve Beaton enjoying his return to darts as he outlines future ambitions

Steve Beaton is a widely loved and favourable darts character, noted for his immense longevity and class on the oche which has been evident for a career lasting more than three decades. He still enjoys playing now, making a return to the sport but in a more relaxed manner, with that competitive edge still there.

He hoped on the Love the Darts podcast as he spoke on his return to the sport, his upcoming plans and the recent Luke Littler controversy. He was pictured a happy figure as he enjoyed the UK sun finally returning in East Anglia. "I live up in Norfolk. It’s funny, the sun’s just come out, but I’ve got the air con on so it’s not too bad for me. It’s lovely up here," he began.

It seemed that the 'The Bronzed Adonis' had thrown his last competitive dart at the end of 2024, marking the end of an illustrious career spanning over 30 years. However, this was not the case with the Englishman having a change of heart. He opted to return to the sport, attempting to get back his tour card via Q-School. He was not able to get over the line despite a valiant effort and now plays his trade on the Challenge Tour among other competitions and exhibitions.

"I’m enjoying it," Beaton exclaimed. "I’ve started doing a few exhibitions with Wayne Mardle now, and we’re having a good laugh—you know what Wayne’s like."

The 62-year-old looked to make the transition over to the seniors, but there was one thing missing from that realm compared to other tours. "The problem last year was with the seniors; I missed the competitive side of it," he admitted. "That’s really why I went to Q School—not necessarily to get a tour card and play everything, but just so I could play now and again if I fancied it. Same with the Challenge Tour—I like to keep my practice up, and competitive darts is the best way of doing that."

The competitive side may be back, but also a sense of fun on stage again. Especially when competing at the more relaxed exhibition clashes. A certain Wayne Mardle has caused a few laughs and memorable stories in their time.

"He last one we did, he had a mic on, and there were about 2,000 people at Butlin’s. He’s just messing around, swearing, drink on stage—it’s such a laugh," he recalled. "It’s so different compared to proper events where you can’t do this or that. We’ve got four more coming up. The funny thing is, he actually beat me that day—took out 126 and another big finish. When he’s still playing seriously, he’s good. But yeah, we had a great laugh."

He confirmed the antics that Mardle displays when hitting a 180. 'Hawaii 501' would walk around the arena delaying play if he fills up the treble 20 bed. "Oh yeah, that’s classic Wayne. I remember about 10 years ago in London, he hit a 180, walked all the way around the room, climbed back on stage—and then hit another one. Imagine Kevin Painter’s face—he wasn’t happy! He missed the 141 after that, though. But it was funny."

Beaton's longevity is something that has been marvelled at by many, making him such an icon and recognisable figure in the sport. He has played, and even defeated, many of the greats from Bristow to Taylor to van Gerwen, even sticking around for the start of Littler's rise to the top.

Back in 1996, Beaton rose to the top of the sport after becoming BDO world champion. He raced to the final in convincing fashion before taking down Richie Burnett 6-3 for one of his most cherished victories.

While it happened over 30 years ago, it is still fresh in the mind of Beaton. "I remember it well—the matches leading up to it too. My first one was around ’92 or ’93, and I think I should have won it that year," he acknowledged.

"After the split, I moved to number one, which was tough—always going in first, expected to win. Then I kept losing first round in ’94 and ’95. In ’96 I got through the first round, and that was it—I went on to win it. It was great times. Richie Burnett is a good lad—he won it the year before me. It was nice to play him in the final. He’s still playing now as well, so we still have a laugh."

Darts now is dominated by a rising crop of young talents threatening to breakthrough and knock off the experience competitors off their perch. The numbers have kept rising, and in doing so the talent and quality.

"There’s loads of it," Beaton commented. "At exhibitions now, most places have youth academies, and the youngsters are fearless. They don’t care—they just play. They’re not drinking or anything, and it’s not just one Luke [Littler] anymore—there are loads of them."

He would go on to talk about the world number one, gobsmacked to where he has taken the sport to in terms of levels of popularity. "I didn’t think darts could get any bigger, but then Luke Littler came along, and now all these youngsters are playing. It’s brilliant."

Beaton continued to praise the 19-year-old. "When he came on the scene, you could see the talent straight away. People were saying he shouldn’t be in the Premier League, that it might be too much—but he’s proved everyone wrong. He’s got a knack for it—the bigger the game, the better he plays. I like him, I think he’s great. He gets a lot of pressure, and people forget how young he is, but he handles it really well."

Beaton acknowledged that he would not producing the best darts of his life now. "I’m 62 now, so I’m not going to play like I did at 21. My consistency goes up and down—that’s what lets me down." As well at that, the rising standard has impacted his results. "The standard has definitely gone up. If you’re not averaging big numbers now, you won’t get a look in. Honestly, I think I’d struggle to keep a tour card now. I could have a good run here and there, but chances are limited—you miss one double and that’s it."

He is saving his best stuff for the exhibition circuit, something that he come to thoroughly enjoy as he play against the worlds best. "I love it. The exhibitions are what I enjoy the most—I’ve got loads this year. Doing them with both Lukes—Luke Humphries as well—people forget how good he’s been. We all have a good laugh. There’s meet-and-greets, and fans get to chat to you properly, not just see you on stage. That’s what they enjoy most."

A hugely intriguing event on the MODUS Super Series is set to take place from April 20-25. The third instalment of International Pairs will pitch two players from certain countries together to compete for glory.

Beaton will be partnering up with Fallon Sherrock in a hugely intriguing partnership. This comes years after the pair competed against one another at Ally Pally. Two years after her famous run to the third round, Sherrock was back for more. This time, Beaton proved too strong with a convincing win.

Four years on, and Beaton is relishing the chance to take to the stage with the 'Queen of the Palace.' "It’s interesting. I’ve played with Fallon Sherrock before in the Worlds, and we get on well," he said. "It was Adrian Lewis last time, so it’ll be nice to play with Fallon this year. I just hope she’s on form—she might have to carry me a bit. But no, I’m really looking forward to it. It should be a great few days."

It was not something that he found out straight off the bat, recently gaining the knowledge that she will play alongside Sherrock. "You did keep that quiet. I didn’t find out until I actually saw it on the Modus."

Going back to his want for competitiveness, the MODUS Super Series offers just that. He has competed regularly there and has enjoyed his time on the series. "That’s right. I’ve really enjoyed it, actually. It’s been great—like you say, competitive," he reiterated.

"It proved the other week when I was on there—I just couldn’t quite get through and lost right at the end. The players in there had all been on the Pro Tour before, so the standard is really high. That’s where a lot of players have come through from. You see Luke Littler’s face up there all the time—how many times he’s won there. I really look forward to playing there, and like I say, playing with Fallon next week will be great."

When asked whether he and Sherrock could win the title, he responded: "That would be very good."

Earlier in the interview, he was singing the praises of Littler after his trailblazing efforts in darts, brining in a new generation. Inevitably, his controversial side did not stay out of the interview for too long. The two-time world champion was involved in a confrontation with world number three Gian van Veen in the Premier League event in Manchester a couple of weeks ago. It has caused for a lot of murmuring on social media and even in the venues, with Littler pictured as the bad guy.

While Beaton did admit that he may not make the right decision every time, he did not think there was much in it. "He does the odd silly thing, but we all do," he stated. "That moment in the Premier League—I don’t think there was any malice in it. He was just excited to get another shot at a double. It’s a shame people took it the wrong way."

He backed up this claim later on. "I honestly don’t think Littler did a lot wrong," he argued. "Van Veen had missed the double and was left on 15. There wasn’t much else Littler could do—he wasn’t putting him off. He was just getting the crowd going. It was in Manchester. Van Veen probably turned around at the wrong time and thought the crowd was against him. It’s just one of those things."

The crowd, in recent times, have sided with van Veen and given 'The Nuke' a tough time of it on stage. Beaton was not overly impressed with some of their antics, including the whistling occasionally seen. "Crowds can turn on you quickly. If you react, they’ll give you twice as much back. It’s the same with whistlers—one starts and others follow. It’s hard to deal with crowds these days. The best thing he can do is keep his head down, smile, and prove it on the dartboard."

Fortunately for Beaton, his experience with the crowds over the years have been vastly positive. "No, I don’t think I have actually. I’ve been very lucky," he said. "I’ve seen loads of players get it though. I remember Willie O'Connor one year—he was leading, the crowd got on him, and he ended up losing. Magnus Caris was another one—he even got fined after reacting to the crowd. I’ve seen it happen to others playing against me, but I’ve never really been caught out myself."

Now into his 60s, Beaton is not looking to become a world beater. However, he definitely wants to turn up and put on a high level to an expectant crowd wherever he is playing. That being said, he still puts the time in on the board while keeping himself fit away from the oche.

"I still try to practise half an hour to an hour a day," he stated. "I cycle and swim most mornings—that’s my routine. I don’t want to go to exhibitions and play poorly. I want to play well—hit 180s and big shots. So I try to stay fit and keep practising. I’ve got loads of exhibitions this year—more than ever. People still want me, which is great. I often do exhibitions on my own because it’s more intimate with the crowd, but I enjoy both formats. It’s going to be a really busy year."

It seems that this is the way forward for Beaton. He confirmed that a second venture to Q-School does not look likely due to his packed schedule. "I’m not really sure. I don’t think I’ll go back to Q School this year. I’ll probably play some Challenge Tour events later in the year, around August, because I’ve got so much work on now. If I did get my tour card back, I’d probably only play 20–30% of the Pro Tour anyway. Without the card, I can just do what I like—I feel a bit freer now."