There hasn't been this much excitement since the Romans fed the Christians to the Lions.

His racy 1973 novel Bedroll Bella about a Geordie groupie was banned by WH Smiths and John Menzies. Injury brought him to darts and he started the inter-college darts competition. His commentaries in these events gained him an international following particularly in the Philippines.

He was nicknamed 'The Voice of Darts' due to his fame as a dart commentator and worked for Granada Yorkshire BBC and Sky Sports television broadcasters. He was nominated for two prestigious awards for his work and publiSid Waddelld several books.