Bullseye! Sky Unveils “Dart Kings” – A Golden Age of Darts Docuseries

Image: Sky Press

By Jon Donnis

Sky is about to serve up a treat for darts fans with a brand-new three-part docuseries called Dart Kings, set to land on Sky Documentaries and NOW in 2025. Produced by the award-winning Mindhouse Productions, the team behind hits like Lockerbie and Louis Theroux Interviews, this series takes a nostalgic dive into the golden age of darts and shines a spotlight on the legendary figures who turned the sport into a British phenomenon.

Back in the 1970s, darts made its way from the smoky corners of local pubs to primetime TV, with a cast of characters who were anything but your average athletes. There was no obsession with fitness or a perfect diet. Instead, the players mixed remarkable skill with plenty of booze, chain-smoking, and a laid-back, open-door policy when it came to fans and the media. But it was this unfiltered, gritty combination of raw talent and personality that made darts a TV sensation, drawing in over 10 million viewers. The series will focus on three of the greatest names in darts: Eric "The Crafty Cockney" Bristow, Jocky Wilson, and Phil "The Power" Taylor. These were the legends who helped transform a pub game into a national pastime.

The show brings to life the colourful and sometimes chaotic world of darts in the 1980s, a time when Britain was grappling with economic hardship and social unrest. But amid all the challenges, darts was a welcome escape, offering an exciting, high-energy spectacle that captured the hearts of millions. Through candid interviews with past and present players, including Bobby George, John Lowe, Keith Deller, and the icon that is Phil Taylor, Dart Kings explores the rise of these stars, the intense rivalries that defined their careers, and the triumphs and heartaches along the way.

Nancy Strang, the executive producer at Mindhouse, describes the series as a celebration of the working-class heroes who made darts what it is today. She says, "Darts is now a huge television spectacle, but the people that really put the game on the map were brilliant working-class players from the 1980s. This series is an opportunity to honour their incredible talent, their larger-than-life personalities, and the fierce rivalries that transformed darts into what it is today."

Hayley Reynolds from Sky adds, "Whether you're a die-hard darts fan or someone who knows little about the sport, this series will show you how darts captured the imagination of the nation and became the phenomenon it is today. It's going to be a fascinating watch for everyone."

So, whether you're in it for the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories, the iconic rivalries, or the chance to revisit some of the sport's most memorable moments, Dart Kings promises to hit the bullseye. Tune in when the series arrives in 2025 to relive the glory days of darts and find out how these unlikely heroes turned a simple pub game into an unforgettable cultural moment.