Sid Waddell: Darts broadcaster dies

Darts broadcaster Sid Waddell has died at the age of 72, his manager said today.

Waddell had been fighting bowel cancer since last September and the news of his death was confirmed this morning.

A statement from his manager Dick Allix read: “With great sadness, we announce that following a long illness, broadcaster and author Sid Waddell died peacefully with all his family around him late last night.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Waddell was a central part of Sky Sports’ coverage of PDC darts events since 1994 and was known for his colourful and excitable commentary style, with his best-known lines including “There’s only one word for it - ‘magic darts’.”

He also noted, while watching Eric Bristow become world champion: “When Alexander of Macedonia was 33, he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer - Bristow’s only 27.”

Waddell’s other commentary work included pool’s Mosconi Cup, while he also made a one-off appearance as the BBC National Lottery’s “voice of the balls”.

In addition, he has had 11 books published and wrote the sport-based BBC children’s programmes Jossy’s Giants and Sloggers, receiving a nomination for best scriptwriter from the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain for the latter.