Popular Sky Sports darts commentator Wayne Mardle has found love again just over a year since his wife Donna sadly passed away aged 52 following a short illness.
Mardle, who turns 53 next month, was married to Donna for 22 years until her death in December 2024 and has since bravely opened up on his grief, describing it as ‘absolutely brutal’ in an emotional video on social media.
The Sky Sports darts pundit now appears to be in a new relationship with single mum Deborah, 53, regularly featuring in videos posted to her TikTok channel that showcase their love.
Earlier this month, a video of Mardle and Deborah beaming from ear to ear and sharing intimate moments together was shared to social media with the caption: ‘If you’re lucky enough to get a second chance at happiness, it’s really important you take it.’
Deborah also posted three days ago to show that even her dog Moss has grown fond of her new man.
‘When your boyfriend left a few hours ago and now you’re watching him on TV, but the dog’s only wondering when dad’s coming back to walk him,’ the post read.
Popular darts commentator Wayne Mardle has found love again with single mum Deborah
Mardle’s wife Donna (left) died in December 2024 after suffering with a short illness
Mardle, 52, was one of the world’s best players before moving into punditry and the commentary box, becoming one of darts’ most respected voices.
His commentary on Sky Sports has become synonymous with darts, particularly over the festive period when the World Championship takes over the screen.
Mardle missed the start of the biggest tournament in the sport two years ago in the weeks following Donna’s death.
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Sky Sports’ darts commentator Wayne Mardle shares raw and emotional video about his ‘brutal’ grief
In February, he opened up about his grief in a raw and heartbreaking video on TikTok.
He 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.
‘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 every day 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.
The ex-darts player shared an emotional video on TikTok in February about his ‘brutal’ grief
‘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.’
