Helen Chamberlain used to date darts ace James Wade and hit 180 live on Soccer AM

Helen Chamberlain is back on our screens presenting the 2023 World Darts Seniors championship, having hosted the event’s inaugural edition last year.

She is best known for presenting popular Saturday morning show Soccer AM for 22 years but has had links to darts throughout her professional and personal life. Having played the sport in pub leagues as a youngster, Chamberlain also dated darts star James Wade for several years.

While on Soccer AM in 2015, she showed off her own skills on the oche against fellow presenter Max Rushden. Nicknamed ‘Torquay Tungsten’, Chamberlain took on Rushden in a six-dart challenge, with the aim to score as many points as possible.

READ MORE: James Wade column: I’ve won loads during 20 years as pro but I’m learning more than ever

Rushden scored a total of 59, but Chamberlain possessed prowess any pro would have been impressed by. The 55-year-old hit a superb 180 and almost repeated the feat had the final dart not bounced out – giving her a total score of 300.

Chamberlain leapt for joy and repeatedly shouted ‘Yes!’ after convincingly winning the challenge with her excellent throwing. With those skills, Chamberlain would give her ex and darts ace James Wade a run for his money.

After quitting his job at a garage and winning his first major title in 2007, he became romantically linked to Chamberlain, who is 16 years his senior. Wade, who was 25 at the time, remained tight-lipped on his relationship with the presenter back in 2008.

“Some of the things I’ve read are not quite true, but we all have good friends, whether they are male or female,” he said. “Helen loves darts – perhaps that’s why we get on so well – but people are putting two and two together and making seven.

“If they made five, they may be closer to the truth, or they may be a million miles away… who knows?” Despite his cryptic statement, Wade was in fact dating his “more famous” partner Chamberlain, and they were together until their 2010 split. After the separation Wade suffered a dip in form amid mental health issues.

He was subsequently diagnosed with clinical depression, bipolar disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. “I’ve had a terrible few months, probably the toughest of my life and I’ve still not sorted out my personal life even now,” Wade said.

“Helen and I were going through our split at the start of the year and my game went to pieces. I didn’t win any of my opening five Premier League matches and I’d criticism flying at me from all angles. It wasn’t a nice feeling. I’m not superhuman, I am quite emotional and personal problems have a huge influence on my darts.

“At times I’d rather have been anywhere than in front of 10,000 fans and live on Sky Sports.” Wade is now married to Sammi Marsh, who is a former walk-on girl.

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