Darts star Jonny Clayton blames spouse for rejection that is ‘price him hundreds’
World Darts Championship contender Jonny Clayton begins his campaign on Monday after jokingly blaming his wife for “costing him thousands” – and it’s all down to his walk-on song selection
Welsh ace Jonny Clayton is set to kick off his pursuit of the 2026 World Darts Championship title on Monday.
His walk-out song usually grabs attention, particularly after he joked his wife’s choice has “cost him thousands” in potential earnings. Clayton, who has enjoyed a bump in form this year, enters the fray at Alexandra Palace as the No. 5 seed and will face off against Adam Lipscombe.
Fans will undoubtedly recognise his arrival, with Chuck Berry’s ‘Johnny B. Goode’ having become a signature part of the star’s entrance. However, Clayton believes he could have proved even more popular with fans had he been allowed to stick with his original choice of walk-out tune.
The Llanelli-born player initially selected The Killers’ ‘Mr. Brightside’ as his entrance anthem, only for his wife, Ellen, to overrule him. Instead, PDC rival Nathan Aspinall claimed the song for himself, and it has since gained a cult following among audiences.
Some competitors, including Dave Chisnall and Mike De Decker, have even suggested the popular tune played a part in securing Aspinall a spot in this year’s Premier League based more on entertainment value than skill. Clayton seems to agree with this sentiment, judging by his remarks about the pivotal decision. He even humorously suggested that he’d be significantly wealthier had he been allowed to have his way.
“Well, right, you couldn’t believe this or not, but I think Ellen, my wife, has cost me thousands in the Premier League,” he once revealed on the Tops and Tales podcast. “Because the walk-on song I wanted was Mr. Brightside.
“Serious to God. So I blame Ellen. Yeah, it was Mr. Brightside, and she said, ‘No, I think something else. I don’t think that would be good.’ So it’s her fault. So yeah, that’s true. Mr. Brightside.”
In fairness to Aspinall, he has acknowledged Clayton’s wife’s role in his achievements as the latter went on: “I have told Nathan. Yeah, he just laughs. He goes, ‘Thank you, Ellen.'”
Even so, the PDC stalwart hasn’t struggled despite missing out on his chosen entrance music. Clayton made it to the World Masters final in February, where he suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to Luke Humphries.
Yet the Welshman hasn’t claimed a major trophy since 2021. Clayton, who has revealed how his father’s sudden passing in 2023 left him contemplating retirement from darts, captured no fewer than four major crowns that year.
Supporters will undoubtedly welcome Clayton warmly when he steps up to the oche in Monday’s penultimate clash of the evening session. Victory would see him progress to meet Dom Taylor in the second round.
After that, potential encounters with the likes of Michael Smith, Andreas Harrysson or Chisnall loom in later stages. Clayton’s finest showing at Alexandra Palace saw him reach the quarter-finals before falling to Dimitri van den Bergh three years ago.
