Darts commentator Wayne Mardle finds new love one year after wife's death

Mardle, who celebrates his 53rd birthday next month, had previously spoken about the devastating impact of his bereavement, calling the experience "absolutely brutal" in an emotional social media post earlier this year.

Earlier this month, one TikTok video showed the pair beaming and enjoying an intimate moment together.

The caption read: "If you're lucky enough to get a second chance at happiness, it's really important you take it."

Last week, Deborah posted another clip revealing that her pet dog Moss has also taken a liking to the darts commentator.

"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," she wrote alongside the footage.

The posts have offered fans a glimpse into Mardle's new chapter, with the couple appearing relaxed and content in each other's company as they share their relationship publicly on social media.

Before establishing himself as one of the most recognisable voices in darts broadcasting, Mardle competed at the highest level of the sport as a professional player.

He has since become a mainstay of Sky Sports' coverage, with his commentary particularly associated with the World Championship during the festive season.

In February, Mardle shared a raw and emotional video on TikTok addressing his grief directly, describing it as a new type of content he termed "GriefTok".

He said: "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."

Mardle continued: "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. 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 darts commentator added: "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."

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