"I just wanted to be different" - Russ Bray recalls early beginnings as iconic refereeing career nears final call

The 2024 PDC World Darts Championship marks the final major tournament in the career of legendary referee and 'the Voice of Darts', Russ Bray. Reflecting on his time in the sport, Bray recently sat down for an extended interview with the PDC.

"27 years with the PDC and I called a couple years prior to that on the county level so 30 years in. I'm an old age pensioner now!" Bray laughs. "Some cracking youngsters coming through so it's now time to turn around and say let the youngsters come through. I've had a magnificent career so far and hopefully I can carry on in the background."

One of the topics discussed is Bray's famous 180 call. With his trademark gravelly voice, Bray's iconic 180 call is known around the world, even by people who wouldn't consider themselves massive darts fans.

"I just wanted to be different and and I think that's important that any new referees coming in or the referees we've got now, we're all different on 180s. That's important. Be a different caller, don't try and copy anybody or emulate anybody," Bray advises. "My voice was different anyway so that was one lucky distinction I had, that my voice was so different. So for me to call a 180 would have sounded different anyway even if I tried to copy."

Bray will continue on in the World Series events and as a PDC ambassador but his final big stage game will be the final of the PDC World Darts Championship on January 3rd.

Check out the full, extended sit down interview in the video below!