Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship
A presenter at this year's PDC World Darts Championship has given an insight into what it's like to be speak to a player after they win.
Polly James, who is best known for her show on Radio X, has conducted a series of post-match interviews throughout this year's tournament at the Alexandra Palace, London.
And ahead of Friday's much-anticipated final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, the 38-year-old has opened up on her role with Sky Sports during an interview with Wales Online.
As well as describing the players as "really down to earth", James delivers a fascinating insight into how she approaches a typical interview on the Ally Pally stage.
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On numerous occasions in recent weeks, a player has been unable to hear what James, or fellow presenter Abigail Davies, has said due to the loud noise levels inside 'the home of darts' – and it's something she must consider.
“It is so loud,” James says. “I had this chat with my boss the other day, but what I tend to do – a bit of behind the scenes thing for you here – I tend to get up on stage and I will really, really quickly tell them ‘ok, Rob Cross, I am literally going to say this to you, how did it feel to come through a big scrap like that’.
“I have only recently started doing that because it is so loud, so at least they can hear one question."
She added: “We had that conversation with the boss and he said it doesn’t matter, it is just the atmosphere. It is so loud in Ally Pally, the atmosphere is crazy, so it doesn’t matter if they cannot hear you.
“You get that buzz as a person and as a sport reporter, you do think ‘don’t f** it up’. It is not about you, it’s all about them, but don’t f*** it up."
James also hit back at critics of her neck tattoos while covering this year's tournament.
“I do get a lot of crap about the neck tattoo,” she says. “More so now, but that is because there are more eyes on darts, but it goes over my head. Say what you like about my appearance, I do not give a… but please don’t criticise my work, because that really hits hard and that generally doesn’t happen.
“I get on with a lot of darts people, I am in such a privileged position to do what I do, but I don’t want to lose sight of what it is like to be a darts fan. I am on their side, I am not on the other side, so to speak. I just have an incredible role to play.”
