ITV's darts coverage is set for a dramatic overhaul in 2026, ushering in a new era both in front of and behind the camera. The network, which has long secured its place as the UK’s free-to-air home for some of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, will see Gabbie Partington step into the spotlight as the new lead presenter, replacing the widely respected Jacqui Oatley. This transition comes at a pivotal time, coinciding with Matchroom—owner of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)—taking the reins of ITV’s darts production in-house for the first time.
Partington’s debut as host is just around the corner, with her first official assignment coming at the Bahrain Darts Masters, scheduled for January 15-16, 2026. She’ll be joined by pundit Mark Webster, one of the few familiar faces remaining from the previous on-air team, as ITV continues its tradition of broadcasting a packed calendar of darts events. The Bahrain Darts Masters will be followed closely by the inaugural Saudi Darts Masters, further cementing ITV’s commitment to delivering world-class darts action to fans across the UK.
This major shake-up follows ITV’s decision to extend its partnership with the PDC until 2028, ensuring that tournaments such as the World Series, Winmau World Masters, UK Open, European Championship, and Players Championship Finals remain accessible to a broad audience. While Sky Sports continues to dominate coverage of the World Championship and other marquee events, ITV’s carefully curated selection of tournaments keeps the sport’s pulse beating on terrestrial television.
Partington is no stranger to the darts world or to live sports broadcasting. The 32-year-old presenter boasts a diverse resume, having previously fronted ITV’s coverage of the 2025 World Series events in New York and Poland. Her energetic presence has been felt at major tournaments like the World Championship and World Matchplay, where she’s often spotted on stage whipping up the crowd during commercial breaks. Her ability to engage fans and bring excitement to the arena has earned her a reputation as a dynamic MC, not just in darts but also on the World Snooker Tour, which she joined in 2024—another property under the Matchroom umbrella.
Beyond her darts credentials, Partington has covered golf, worked as a matchday presenter for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and contributed to talkSPORT. Her wide-ranging experience and versatility make her a natural fit for ITV’s refreshed darts coverage. Adding a personal touch to her profile, Partington is close friends with TNT Sports presenter Laura Woods. The two have been spotted celebrating birthdays together, with Woods publicly sharing her affection for Partington on social media, writing, "Happy birthday my little darling." This camaraderie is expected to infuse the coverage with a fresh, relatable energy that resonates with viewers.
The decision to hand over production duties to Matchroom represents a significant strategic shift for ITV. With Matchroom now controlling both the sport and its broadcast presentation, the network is poised to deliver a more integrated and potentially innovative viewing experience. Chris Mason, a veteran pundit and long-time member of the ITV darts team, captured the bittersweet mood of the transition in a social media post ahead of the Players Championship Finals: "One more event to do with the current team before production is put in the safe hands of Matchroom. 18 years is a long old time to spend with colleagues that have become friends. Darts of course will be staying on ITV Sport but it’s going to feel and look very different."
For Jacqui Oatley, the end of 2025 marked the conclusion of a decade-long chapter as the face of ITV’s darts coverage. Oatley, who joined the network over ten years ago and quickly became a staple of its sports programming, bid an emotional farewell after the Players Championship Finals in November 2025. In a heartfelt message shared on X (formerly Twitter), she reminisced, "Heading home for the final time from @ITVSport duty after a decade with a brilliant production team. First three years were presenting football, including Euro 2016, World Cup 2018, with darts, darts, darts throughout. Can’t express how grateful I am to have worked with such amazing people. The producers, led by Phil Heslop, are incredible, the directors, spotters, pundits, commentators, crew behind the camera, sound guys, graphics team, Jonesy (who tells me off for being an inch off my standing spot) – everyone. Always smiling while working hard – most of all, they care about the output. Because that’s what it’s all about: the viewer’s experience. We hope our genuine enjoyment came across. Back to football for me now but I’ll still be going to the darts. With a pint in hand instead of a mic. Bye for now x."
Oatley’s departure marks the end of an era, but her legacy is secure. Her leadership and professionalism helped establish ITV as a trusted destination for darts fans, and her rapport with colleagues was evident in the outpouring of support and gratitude from the production team. While she plans to refocus on football, Oatley has made it clear she’ll remain a passionate supporter of darts, albeit from the stands rather than the studio.
The broader darts community has reacted to these sweeping changes with a mixture of nostalgia and anticipation. Pundits like Chris Mason have highlighted the depth of friendships forged over years of collaboration, while also expressing optimism about the fresh direction under Matchroom’s stewardship. The move to internal production is expected to introduce a new look and feel to ITV’s broadcasts, with viewers already buzzing about what the 2026 season will bring.
As the countdown to the Bahrain Darts Masters begins, all eyes are on Gabbie Partington and the new-look ITV team. Will they capture the magic and excitement that fans have come to expect, or will this bold experiment redefine how darts is presented to the masses? One thing’s for sure: with a vibrant new host, a seasoned punditry team, and the backing of Matchroom’s production expertise, ITV’s darts coverage is poised for a compelling new chapter. The next few weeks promise to be a fascinating watch for fans and industry insiders alike.
With the stage set for the Bahrain Darts Masters and a refreshed broadcast team ready to take the reins, the future of darts on ITV looks both uncertain and exciting. Fans can expect a blend of tradition and innovation as the sport’s coverage evolves under new leadership, ensuring that darts remains firmly in the spotlight for years to come.
