Ex-darts star Mark Webster has made a heart-breaking announcement on why he stepped away from broadcasting – the former player has become one of the most recognisable figure in darts broadcasting
Former darts player and broadcaster Mark Webster has revealed why he stepped away from broadcasting, issuing a heart-breaking health update.
The 42-year-old has now revealed his broadcasting departure was due to a hairy cell leukaemia diagnosis he received at the start of the year. The Spider burst onto the scene in 2006, and won the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship before spending a decade in the PDC. Since his retirement he has become the most recognisable figures in the darts broadcasting world.
In a heart-breaking conversation with Darts World’s Polly James, Webster said: “I never really added anything on it because I assumed I’d be back a lot sooner, but on January 8 I was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called hairy cell leukaemia. It sounds bad when you say leukaemia but it’s got a good prognosis, 95 per cent of cases are successful. I will be put it into some sort of remission at some point.
“It’s just the recovery at the minute is not going to plan in terms of the speed of it. My white blood (cell) counts are still not recovering, so therefore my immune system is not great at the minute. Hence why I can’t go back to work.
“It’s not the worst case scenario, but it’s just a bit frustrating for me at the minute, but I’m managing okay, I’m dealing with it alright.”
Speaking on the recovery process, Webster, from North Wales, said it is a case of trusting the process and added it is frustrating since the broadcaster had been used to being so busy.
He said: “I can work with people but just not in sensitive environments. It’s frustrating really, day to day I am used to being busy.
“The Premier League on February 5th is the last time I worked. I am just managing it and trusting the people that have been looking after me.
“They have been really good. I don’t always get the answer that I want when I go in, but I have got to trust them.
“I got a bit carried away a couple of weeks ago thinking I might be able to work in Brighton, but my blood count was too low.
“My understanding is we are just keeping an eye on them and I am currently on boosters and they are going up.
“Hopefully I can come off those boosters, then they have to hold and I can return to work. It’s just a case of trusting the process.”
He added: “I have a blood test on a weekly basis, so I have them done then I go and see my specialist every few weeks, then I just go from there.”