sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Wayne Mardle makes announcement that has 'broken him' after life takes 'difficult turn'
Home>Darts
Published 11:28 23 Feb 2026 GMT

Wayne Mardle makes announcement that has 'broken him' after life takes 'difficult turn'

Mardle has received a huge amount of support following the news.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Sky Sports commentator and former darts player Wayne Mardle has candidly spoken about rehoming his beloved dogs, Sherlock and Watson – a decision he says has "broken" him.

Mardle, who reached three consecutive World Championship semi-finals during his career before moving into the world of punditry and commentary, recently took part in a lengthy Q&A session on X, formerly Twitter.

Here, he spoke about numerous subjects, including Michael van Gerwen's recent form, his favourite destination on the Premier League calendar (Leeds) and his dream sports-related dinner party guests (Dustin Johnson, Michael Johnson and Usain Bolt).

Mardle was also asked how Sherlock and Watson, his two dogs, are getting on – a question that brought an emotional response from the former darts player.

Advert

"I’ve not told many this, life has taken a difficult turn and I’ve had to have them rehomed," he wrote. "This has broken me. Don’t take anything for granted. I had everything I wanted now I have nothing I want."

The love from a dog is a special thing! What a boy!!! #Sherlock pic.twitter.com/BEJdizGYGv

— WAYNE MARDLE (@Wayne501Mardle) February 11, 2018

Sherlock the Chocolate Labrador has appeared on Mardle's social media account on many occasions over the years alongside Watson the Labradoodle.

After responding to a host of questions from fans, Mardle confirmed he was "ok" after receiving a huge amount of support from well-wishers.

"I’ve had many messages and texts over the last hour or so," he wrote. "I’m ok. I assure you, you’ll hear me spouting absolute tripe as usual on Thursday at the Premier League. Loves!"

Wayne Mardle shares emotional video about ongoing grief following death of his wife

Back in December 2024, Mardle revealed that his wife of 22 years, Donna, had passed away after a short illness. He proceeded to take some time away from his media duties before returning in February 2025.

This week, Mardle took to the social media platform TikTok to bravely speak out about the grief he is going through following the tragic loss of his wife.

"This is a first for me, I'm having one of those days. This is the first of another genre of TikTok for me, I think you may even call it 'GriefTok' nowadays," he began.

"Normally it is a bit of golf and a bit of darts. My wife Donna died on December 11, 2024, so about 430 odd days ago, I used to count the days, call that progress, call it what you like. It doesn't feel like progress, it is absolutely brutal.

"The reason I'm doing this is, while it is brutal, I am still here and all you can do is keep trying, right, keep trying.

"It is a process, so I'm told and you go through stages. You don't go through stages. You go through phases, there's a phase and then there's another phase. Before you know it that phase is returning so the stage or phase you think is going to pass, it doesn't work that way."

Mardle continued: "So however you're feeling is how you're feeling, don't worry about it and when I say that I literally mean deal with it how you feel you want to deal with it, there's no right or wrong here.

"I used to literally go everyday to Donna's graveside. I haven't been there for the past... well, since Christmas Day and it is now February 21. I don't feel guilty, I just feel like I can't do it because it beats me, beats me every time I go over there, you have a millisecond off of forgetting, right, that's about it.

"But I just want to tell you all, that those who are going through similar, don't overthink it, don't double bluff yourself, just get on with it how you think is right and the people who question you are not your friends, they're not your family, they have a perception of grief, it's incorrect.

"It's just brutal, it really is brutal but all I'm saying to all of you is, if I can help one person, I'm not even helping myself here, I don't know what I'm doing, just do it how you want to do it, don't overthink it, please don't. I hope tomorrow is better than today."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images

Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is the Senior Journalist for SPORTbible, one of the world’s biggest social publishers. He specialises in long-form feature writing and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day. He has a BA (Hons) in Journalism and News Practice.

X

@jackkenmare_

Recommended reads

'I wanted to give back to the sport that gave me everything' - Ashley Cole is finding himself in first manager jobGettyAn interview with Ben Stokes: 'English cricket doesn't lack talent... there are quite a few names'Getty ImagesMichael Bisping suggests radical eye poke rule change ahead of Tom Aspinall comebackGetty ImagesAndrea Pirlo interview: 'Football has changed and unfortunately we've been left behind' Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

5 days ago
9 days ago
16 days ago
20 days ago
  • Getty
    5 days ago

    PDC confirm action being taken to protect Luke Littler from social media abuse

    The social media cess pool is a problem for stars around the entire world of sport.

    Darts
  • Sky Sports
    9 days ago

    'I don't want to do it anymore...' - Luke Littler in tears after discussing toughest moment of career so far

    Littler was speaking after winning his second Premier League.

    Darts
  • Getty / Sky Sports
    16 days ago

    Gerwyn Price has fan ejected from Premier League Darts after Stephen Bunting incident

    Price was less than happy during his semi-final against Stephen Bunting.

    Darts
  • Getty Images
    20 days ago

    Gerwyn Price shares new Premier League format idea and it features 'royal rumble-style game'

    Some have grown tired of the current Premier League format, so this would certainly spice things up.

    Darts
  • Luke Littler Makes Surprise Announcement After Winning World Grand Prix
  • Luke Littler Makes Major Career Announcement Ahead of World Grand Prix
  • PDC Make Major Announcement on 2026 Premier League After Format Rumours
  • Darts world champion received 'earth shattering' tax bill that declared him bankrupt