Darts followers have been left asking the place a preferred presenter had gone because the Dutch Masters received underway.
While Sky Sports exhibits nearly all of darts motion within the UK with occasions just like the World Championship and the upcoming Premier League, ITV is the game’s free-to-air house, displaying World Series occasions, plus just a few majors.
They are normally offered by skilled broadcaster Jacqui Oatley. However, she has been absent from the primary two World Series occasions of the 12 months, the Bahrain Masters and the present Dutch occasion in Den Bosch.
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Her place has been taken by Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton, who has develop into Sky’s face of darts since changing the legendary Dave Clark amid his battle with Parkinson’s illness in 2020.
An X (previously Twitter) consumer was among the many followers to ask about Oatley, posting: “@ITVSport, where is Jacqui Oatley on the darts? We’re missing her.”
(Image: Twitter@https://twitter.com/HighRollerRadio)
(Image: PA)
ITV’s protection is actually in succesful fingers with Paton, who has develop into a agency favorite because of her pleasant, easy-going method and rapport with pundits, who embody the likes of Wayne Mardle and John Part on Sky and now Chris Mason on ITV.
During the World Championship, Paton advised Daily Star Sport about her ardour for the game and the way she started fronting Sky’s protection. She stated: “I’ve at all times been a darts fan however nothing like I’m now, doing each main occasion for Sky.
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“I worked on Sky Sports News in production behind the scenes but always wanted to be reporting and presenting. I got a breakthrough in 2019 by presenting on Sky Sports News.
“Dave Clark, an absolute legend who had presented it for 20 years, saw it as the right time to step back. Rory Hopkins, who produced darts for 30 years, basically the whole time darts had been Sky, saw me on Sky Sports News. He sent me a random message saying, ‘is there any chance you like darts? I think you’d be great for it’.”