Popular Sky Sports darts commentator Wayne Mardle has shared a brave and heartfelt video about his grief, having lost wife Donna in 2024.
Mardle, 52, was one of the world’s best players before transitioning into punditry and the commentary box and opened up about his feelings on TikTok.
Donna died aged 52 in 2024 after a short illness and the pair were married for 22 years.
In a raw and emotional video on TikTok, Mardle said: ‘This is a first for me, I’m having one of those days. This is the first of another genre of TikTok for me, I think you may even call it ‘GriefTok’ nowadays.
‘Normally it is a bit of golf and a bit of darts. My wife Donna died on December 11, 2024, so about 430 odd days ago, I used to count the days, call that progress, call it what you like. It doesn’t feel like progress, it is absolutely brutal. The reason I’m doing this is, while it is brutal, I am still here and all you can do is keep trying, right, keep trying.
He continued: ‘It is a process, so I’m told and you go through stages. You don’t go through stages. You go through phases, there’s a phase and then there’s another phase. Before you know it that phase is returning so the stage or phase you think is going to pass, it doesn’t work that way.
Wayne Mardle shared a video on TikTok to help others like himself, who are grieving
Mardle’s wife Donna (left) died after suffering with a short illness back in 2024
‘So however you’re feeling is how you’re feeling, don’t worry about it and when I say that I literally mean deal with it how you feel you want to deal with it, there’s no right or wrong here. I used to literally go everyday to Donna’s graveside. I haven’t been there for the past… well, since Christmas Day and it is now February 21.
‘I don’t feel guilty, I just feel like I can’t do it because it beats me, beats me every time I go over there, you have a millisecond off of forgetting, right, that’s about it.
‘But I just want to tell you all, that those who are going through similar, don’t overthink it, don’t double bluff yourself, just get on with it how you think is right and the people who question you are not your friends, they’re not your family, they have a perception of grief, it’s incorrect.
‘It’s just brutal, it really is brutal but all I’m saying to all of you is, if I can help one person, I’m not even helping myself here, I don’t know what I’m doing, just do it how you want to do it, don’t overthink it, please don’t. I hope tomorrow is better than today.’
Mardle’s voice has become synonymous with darts, especially over the festive period when the World Championship takes over the screen.
He missed the start of the biggest tournament in the sport two years ago in the weeks following Donna’s death, returning this year for commentary duty.
When the news of Donna’s passing was announced on the live broadcast at the time, it was clearly emotionally affecting the broadcast team.
A tearful presenter, Emma Paton, said: ‘Wayne is the heart and soul of everything we do here at Sky Sports darts, but the heart of his world, his wonderful wife Donna, sadly passed away earlier this week after a short illness.’
Sky Sports shared the above tribute on their coverage when Donna died in December 2024
‘We will be remembering Donna throughout this tournament. Wayne, you are in our thoughts, in our hearts, we love you very much and we will see you very soon.’
Mardle is often remembered for commentary of the sport’s greatest leg, two years ago, when Michael Smith hit a nine-dart finish in the final against Michael van Gerwen, who missed a double 12 on his own attempt at perfection.
Mardle exclaimed: ‘One man misses, does the other man get? I have never seen the like.
‘Come on Bully Boy. Yes! Double 12…That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your life. I can’t speak, I can’t speak.’
