As Seen On TV – Emma Paton Issue #02
And just like that..over a month has passed since my last blog. The Premier League is all done and dusted for another year and I’ve just got back from a wonderful World Cup. 2025 is already going way too quickly!!
The World Cup is always one of the standout events of the year and to be honest it never disappoints! It’s only four days long but it feels like we pack in a lot of drama for just a few days! One thing I love about this event is unearthing new talent, getting a glimpse players who don’t regularly play on the tour and of course seeing the shocks and suprises along the way.
I’m not sure they’ll be a bigger shock in the tournament’s history than the two Lukes crashing out in their first match and I’ll admit, I had definitely already handed them the trophy before we’d even started – so that shows what I know! I really couldn’t see them failing but it highlights how important being a real team and unit is, plus how much the different rhythm of pairs can throw your game off. I will say, I’ve worked in a lot of arenas over the years – some huge ones like the o2 and the Uber Arena in Berlin – but the noise at the Eisporthalle that night was incredible. The German crowd were loud!!!
We ended up with a fitting finale didn’t we, with drama, nerves, and a little bit of heartbreak thrown in as well. Just another day in darts ay!? Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney pulled off the unthinkable for Northern Ireland beating Wales’ superstar duo of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in a last leg decider full of twists and turns. I was sitting by the side of the stage not knowing which way it was going to go but wow what an ending. The scenes when Daryl Gurney nailed that double 8 were emotional - there were hugs, tears, and more hugs and tears! It felt like a huge moment for those two – Josh Rock showing he’s not just the future but the now, and for Gurney it’s a redemption story. I have a feeling there’s more to come from the pair of them in 2025!
Well the World Cup started just two weeks after the Premier League final – which seems like ages ago now! Finals night always feels special – the fact it’s at the o2 and we’ve had 16 weeks of action building up to it – it’s a really magical evening.
We had some electric walk ons, a crowd of 15,000 with some belting singalongs and of course a night that ended with the tale of the two Lukes. It was an odd final in some ways with both players mentioning a bit of a breeze up on the stage but one that saw Luke Humphries avenge his loss from 12 months before and beat Littler 11-8. For all Cool Hand has achieved it felt like a big moment – a trophy that he’d so wanted all season and of course ticking off that ‘Triple Crown’ by adding the Premier League to his World Championship and World Matchplay titles. For Littler meanwhile, it was a disappointing ending after arguably being the best player across the four months leading up to the O2, but no doubt that will add to his motivation for the rest of the year!
After the Premier League final I made my first a trip down to Bridgend to see the team at Red Dragon which was SO cool!!! I was given a full tour of the place – and trust me it really is any darts fan’s paradise! It was mindblowing to see the brains behind the product innovation and to see where darts dreams become a reality. We filmed lots of cool content and also worked on something very exciting..so keep your eyes peeled for that!
There are some big events coming up over the next few weeks – some of the guys head out on the World Series – I still can’t get my head around darts being played at Maddison Square Garden - how cool is that!? But for me and the Sky gang it’s all about counting down to the World Matchplay!
There’s nothing quite like Blackpool in July..
Until next time!
