Wayne Mardle makes emotional return to Premier League Darts commentary after passing of his wife
PDC
A welcome voice returning to the commentary booth for the bumper clash between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen was one Wayne Mardle who returns for the first time to Sky Sports since the tragic passing of his wife Donna.
Mardle whether you love or loathe him has long been a focal point of the Sky Sports Darts fabric since his retirement from the sport calling such moments in recent times in particular as the Jose de Sousa 120 where he lost his voice and the 'I can't spake' Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen nine-dart finish moment.
As the darting world geared up for the opening night of the PDC World Darts Championship, Sky Sports anchor Emma Paton revealed the devastating news that his wife Donna had passed after a short illness.
It had an effect also on the players with Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen speaking glowingly of Wayne and his wife. Humphries said: “I’ve spoken to him, yeah. What he's told me, I won't repeat - that’s his business.
“But I heard that he might be coming back to do some commentary. I think he's coping but, yeah, everyone knows that when you lose a loved one, it's really tough, isn't it?” Van Gerwen who he returns on commentary tonight also got emotional when asked about it.
It was unsure when Mardle would return as grief takes many forms but on social media, fans remarked how much they missed Mardle and were rewarded as he joined his old sparring partner Rod Studd for the bumper match.
A dream team of close friends also off the oche, Mardle and Studd are well versed for the big occasion. A legendary voice returns and fans remarked when he did of how good it was to have him back calling the action as a missing piece in the Sky Sports jigsaw.
Welcome back, @Wayne501Mardle ❤️
— Live Darts (@livedarts) February 6, 2025
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- May only have won two PDC Majors but thats two more than most players will ever win. He wasn’t lucky either to beat Taylor and MVG, he outplayed them.Mysstree29-03-2025
- Bunting is having a nightmare.Mysstree28-03-2025
- The next prodigy (prodigies) are just round the corner. Wonder if it gets to the stage of 180 after 180 being hit leg after leg whether there will be a modification to the equipment such as reduced doubles and trebles, reduce the size of the board or length of the oche?Mysstree25-03-2025
- obviously littler has the potential to surpass everybody simply because nobody has been this good at this age before, but people who think he would be any kind of favourite right now against prime taylor in a big final have short memories. it's obvious that prime taylor wouldn't win as many world titles if he was playing today, but there's also good reason to believe he'd be winning more than anybody else. hell, his statistical profile still stands alone in darts history and he might statistically be even better if he was playing today with better equipment, larger beds, more competition therefore more motivation, etc.colt24-03-2025
- Bad idea. Every other Major ranking title prize funds added together do not come to £1 million. Add £500k to the prize pot and spread it out evenly over the draw.Mysstree24-03-2025
- Jake Paul is an arrogant American attention seeker. It would be nice to see - Usyk knock the arrogance out of him... but take his time in doing so.MrYnyslas197123-03-2025
- The Premier League is a glorified promotional tool for piss heads to attend and shout abuse at dart players so averages are not the way to pick the best line up. Throw Peter Manley, Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson into the mix for some real fireworks.Mysstree22-03-2025
- Concentrate on your darts, Jake Paul would knock seven sacks of **** out of you. Add free site please.Mysstree22-03-2025
- you've printed the wrong score for the final.colt18-03-2025
- Covid or the vaccine. Which one done him?Mysstree16-03-2025