“They told me I had just fifteen minutes to live” – Former walk-on girl releases tenth and final lingerie calendar

Former darts walk-on girl Daniella Harper will release her tenth – and final – lingerie calendar in 2026, bringing an end to an era that, through its highs and its brutal personal lows, tied her name permanently to the darts world.

The milestone is bittersweet: while the tenth edition marks a significant landmark, it will also be the first without her long-time calendar partner Charlotte Wood, who has stepped away to run her own wedding venue after a career change.

Harper and Wood were for years one of the most recognisable and popular pairings in darts. Not just on stage, but far beyond it – their joint photoshoots and annual calendars were a staple for fans. Their partnership was abruptly halted in 2018 when both were removed from TV coverage after darts’ governing bodies, under public pressure, scrapped walk-on girls entirely. The decision sparked a wave of anger among fans at the time.

Although the pair pursued their own paths afterwards, their friendship and professional bond continued – until now. Wood opted for a new life in the events industry, while Harper was determined to create one final calendar. She said in quotes collected by The Sun: “Really upset it’s not with Charlotte this year, not the same without her.”

Harper’s 2026 edition marks a remarkable milestone: ten calendars, amounting to 120 months of shoots. She calls it a natural point to bow out.

“It will be my tenth and final calendar and marks seven years since the walk-on girls ban. The calendar has been selling really well and the support from fans who have stayed loyal since our axe from the sport is still incredibly overwhelming. Ten feels like a nice number to end on. Closing the door on a brilliant journey with the darts and thanking fans for their support.”

Even after the walk-on role disappeared, Harper remained a familiar face in darts. She attended countless exhibitions, signings and events, and she’ll be back on the circuit next week as a guest at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.

But the past years haven’t been defined solely by photoshoots and public appearances. Harper has endured multiple medical emergencies that changed her life dramatically. She survived three near-fatal pregnancy complications – including one in which doctors told her she had just fifteen minutes left to live.

Her first brush with death came during an ectopic pregnancy, when she required emergency surgery at eleven weeks. In 2020 she told SunSport: “Daniel [Harper’s husband] thought he was going to lose me.”

The complications kept coming. When Harper fell pregnant again, she needed another emergency operation and lost twins in 2017. And in 2019 another ectopic pregnancy led to a ruptured fallopian tube, forcing yet another life-saving procedure. Recovering from it all took enormous strength, both mentally and physically.

Still, Harper refused to give in. Eventually, through IVF, she gave birth to her second daughter – a moment she describes as “a miracle after everything that went wrong”.

With her final calendar, Daniella Harper closes a chapter that shaped both her life and career. From glamorous walk-on moments alongside legends like Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, to shoots in open fields, to fighting for her own life – she has seen every side of it. “It feels like I haven’t aged a day,” she jokes, “but it’s time to close the door.”

Fans will have one last chance to enjoy a calendar that brings to an end a period darts followers won’t forget any time soon.