VIDEO: Michael van Gerwen forced to apologise after x-rated slip-up live on Sky Sports

Michael van Gerwen’s opening-night victory in the 2026 Premier League Darts produced the first viral broadcast moment of the new season, and it came after the darts were already finished.

Moments after lifting the Night 1 trophy in Newcastle, Van Gerwen was speaking live on Sky Sports during an on-stage interview with Wayne Mardle.

Reflecting on how long the win had felt in coming, the Dutchman blurted out, “It’s about fucking time” on air.

He immediately realised what he had said, stopped himself and apologised directly to the camera before correcting the line to “It’s about time”, doing so with a broad, knowing smile. Mardle, standing alongside him, laughed as the interview quickly moved on and the broadcast regained control.

The clip spread rapidly across social media, with fans reacting to a rare glimpse of unfiltered release from one of darts’ most controlled and experienced competitors. Sky Sports issued an on-air apology shortly afterwards, but the incident quickly became part of the night’s wider narrative rather than a distraction from it.

In a sport built on routine, repetition and composure under lights, the brief lapse felt human. It was a split second where relief cut through the usual polish of live television.

The moment followed a strong night on the oche for Van Gerwen, who opened his Premier League campaign with maximum points.

He began the evening with a comfortable quarter-final win over Stephen Bunting, then produced one of his sharpest displays of the night in the semi-final to defeat Luke Humphries. That set up an all-Dutch final against Gian van Veen, where Van Gerwen controlled the key moments and closed out a 6–4 victory to claim the opening nightly win of the 2026 season.

It was a reminder that, even as a new generation continues to push forward, Van Gerwen remains a central figure in the Premier League picture.

The darts earned him the trophy, but it was the unscripted seconds that followed which ensured Newcastle delivered the Premier League’s first must-watch broadcast moment of the year, with the clip available to watch in full below.