Sid Waddell: Darts broadcaster dies
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.”
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Hide AdWaddell 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.