Many moons ago, the elite darts players on the planet could happily wander around Tesco doing their – to coin a Peter Kay phrase – Big Shop and nobody would bat a bloody eyelid. In fact, it’s doubtful most people would even recognise them. You could probably have had Jocky Wilson stood next to you squeezing avocados in aisle seven and the only thing anyone would’ve asked is whether he knew where the Rich Tea biscuits were.
That was largely because there were far fewer televised events, meaning considerably less exposure, and this was also long before the birth of social media. Facebook didn’t exist back then, so just imagine the sheer emotional hardship millions had to endure without daily photographs of somebody’s burnt dinner. Tip: no one’s arsed!
Nowadays though, the global landscape has changed entirely. Professional darts players are genuine superstars. The sport has exploded at an exponential rate and, with that growth, the moment where players began getting the absolute shit bugged out of them by knobheads wielding camera phones at airports was always inevitable. Somewhere in Germany right now, there’s probably a poor exhausted pro just trying to buy a bottle of water while being asked for seventeen selfies by a bloke named Hans in stupid trousers and waving a pretzel around.
But it’s not just the players who are famous anymore. Darts referees are rapidly becoming celebrities in their own right. Back in the day, nobody really knew who Russ Bray or George Noble were – admittedly that changed over time because Russ sounded like a walrus shouting numbers through a megaphone – but the modern generation of officials have reached a level of fame somewhere between television personality and Premier League footballer’s wife.
Right now, there are four elite officials at the top of the game. One has a successful podcast. Another is rarely off TikTok. One has launched his own merchandise range and the remaining member of the quartet is yet to enter the business. And honestly, fair play to them.
Each official brings personality, individuality and character to the sport. Darts has always thrived on recognisable faces and larger-than-life personas, so if referees can use their skills and platform to broaden their careers, good luck to them. Let’s take a look at the trio currently balancing officiating with extracurricular adventures.
OWEN BINKS
Young Owen is currently on the hunt for a nickname after wisely dismissing Jar Jar, largely due to not wishing to be associated with the bungling galactic idiot many Star Wars fans still blame for personally helping to derail an entire franchise. Me don’t blame him either.
The young Essex referee might genuinely look like he’s about to head off to primary school with a packed lunch and a permission slip tucked into his rucksack, but he is in fact considerably older than his appearance suggests. Think of Binksey as the sort of bloke who’ll still get asked for ID buying lager when he’s collecting his pension.
A huge Colchester United supporter, Binks once even informed globally renowned music superstar Ed Sheeran that his beloved Ipswich Town were shit. Which is essentially the football equivalent of two bald men fighting over a comb. Neither side is exactly Real Madrid, but that’s what makes football rivalry beautiful.
For years, Binksey was the man on the microphone at the MODUS Super Series. He must have started there at about six years old. Then, following the legendary George Noble stepping away from regular PDC duties, Owen became the next cab off the rank.
It was an emotional farewell from the Live Lounge after such a long stint in Portsmouth, although ironically, he now seems to appear there more often than ever, meaning the grand plan to get rid of him went spectacularly to shit.
As for the fame side of things, Binks has built a huge following online through amusing videos where he explains lesser-known darts rules using players, skits and scripts that occasionally feel like they were written by someone rejected from Hollyoaks. To be fair, they are excellent. Educational may not be his modus operandi, but they are refreshingly entertaining and genuinely funny.
He’s essentially the Del Boy of darts officiating. One minute you expect him to offer you three boxes of dodgy strawberries out the back of a van, the next he’s informing you that you’ve bust 140. But I love him. Top geezer.
HUW WARE
Perhaps the nicest and most polite human being currently employed in professional sport. Welshman Huw Ware recently launched his own podcast, the cleverly titled Tops & Tales, in which he interviews major names from the darts world in a relaxed and conversational setting.
There are countless darts podcasts floating around nowadays – most recorded through microphones that sound like they’ve been submerged in gravy – but this is comfortably one of the strongest. Huw’s calm approach and excellent interviewing skills immediately put guests at ease, creating conversations that feel natural, fascinating and refreshingly authentic.
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting Mr Ware, as I have on several occasions, he is absolutely nothing like the loud, lager-fuelled stereotype often associated with darts. In fairness, most players are decent, grounded people too, but Huw somehow exists on another level entirely. Honestly, if he ever suddenly swore in conversation, there’d probably be a nationwide weather warning issued.
He’s so articulate, polished and extraordinarily well-spoken that you’d think he accidentally wandered into a PDC interview after originally applying to become chairman of Harrods. Still, he performs the role with consummate professionalism and effortless authority. A genuinely lovely and grounded bloke. Essentially a more refined, considerably less TikTok-heavy version of Binks.
KIRK BEVINS
Another genuinely decent and thoroughly likeable figure within the sport is Kirk Bevins. Similarly to Huw, his delivery and oration are immaculate and, from the trio mentioned, only Binks realistically looks capable of successfully auditioning for The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist.
Following the gradual stepping back of Russ Bray and George Noble, Kirky is now effectively the senior official within the PDC. And by senior, I simply mean he’s been there the longest. A 97-year-old referee could debut tomorrow carrying a walking stick and oxygen tank and Bevins would still technically outrank him in service years.
Known affectionately as The Kirkulator – yes, even referees have nicknames now, they’ll have pyrotechnics and entrance dancers by Christmas – Bevins also happens to be a former Countdown champion. Yes. That TV show Countdown.
Give the man nine random letters, an obnoxiously loud ticking clock and thirty seconds and he’ll suddenly produce words sounding like rare Victorian diseases. Perfect credentials really for someone spending their evenings counting darts scores while surrounded by middle-aged blokes dressed as traffic cones. Although to be fair, there is a maths round in Countdown which he must have pissed.
Recently, Kirk launched his own merchandise range under the slogan “You asked, you got.” To which Chris Dobey brilliantly replied on Facebook: “Who asked?” An outstanding question. At this point, we’re all just waiting for Kirk to expand the empire further by launching a chocolate range called Kirkish Delight.
Which finally leaves Charlie Corstorphine as the only member of the officiating quartet yet to branch out beyond refereeing duties. Come on Charlie mate – get your arse in gear and launch a winter clothing collection. Scarves, gloves, thermal socks, the lot. The darts world is waiting.
