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Darts Commentator Claims He's Been 'Thrown In Gutter' After 20 Years on ITV

Home> Darts

Updated 09:11 16 Jan 2026 GMTPublished 17:06 15 Jan 2026 GMT

Darts Commentator Claims He's Been 'Thrown In Gutter' After 20 Years on ITV

The former BDO and PDC star says he was 'thrown under the gutter' after the new ITV darts line-up was announced.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

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A darts commentator claims he has been 'thrown in the gutter' after finding out that he would not be part of ITV's coverage for the 2026 season.

The PDC announced a new-look presenting and punditry team for ITV's darts coverage on Thursday.

ITV's broadcasting contract ended at the end of 2025, but the PDC agreed a new three-year deal which has seen themselves and Matchroom Media take over full production duties.

Now, it has been confirmed that, alongside existing ITV pundits Chris Mason and Mark Webster, Wayne Mardle and three-time world champion Glen Durrant will be joining the team.

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Gabbie Partington and Sky Sports host Pete Graves will present the action, with Dan Dawson, Ian Danter and Mark Wilson on commentary duties.

Jacqui Oatley, who fronted the darts as part of a 10-year stint with ITV up until the end of 2025, announced in November that she would be leaving the broadcaster.

And there is no room in the new line-up for former darts star Alan Warriner-Little, who had worked with ITV for 20 years as both a pundit and commentator.

The 63-year-old, who was born in Lancaster, played professional darts between 1985 and 2009.

Warriner-Little, who reached the BDO world final in 1993, was one of the 16 founding members of the PDC later that year and subsequently reached two more world semi-finals.

He won the 2001 World Grand Prix, defeating Roland Scholten in the final.

Taking to Twitter following the announcement of ITV's new team, Warriner-Little says he was not informed that he was no longer part of the coverage.

"It would have been nice/professional after 20 years service with ITV to at least be told I have been thrown in the gutter," he wrote.

"Good luck to everyone. #VeryPoor. I shall be from this point reviewing everything I do."

Image: Twitter/Alan Warriner-Little
Image: Twitter/Alan Warriner-Little

'The Iceman' confirmed in November that his time with ITV had come to an end, with the new Matchroom/PDC partnership now deciding not to retain him as part of their coverage.

SPORTbible have contacted Matchroom for comment.

ITV's first darts tournament of the new era takes place on Thursday with the Bahrain Darts Masters.

Reigning champion Stephen Bunting, world champion Luke Littler and world number two Luke Humphries are among the players in action.

The eight PDC representatives will take on eight Asian players, including two Bahraini stars, in singles matches on day one, before the quarter-finals commence on Friday.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Darts

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

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