From quirky Ali G and Super Mario outfits to fans sporting fried egg, Smurf, and traffic cone costumes, the fancy dress at darts tournaments never ceases to entertain.

The revelry will carry on this Friday during the PDC World Darts Championship final taking place at Alexandra Palace in North London.

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A significant part of the enjoyment stems from one remarkable individual—oche icon Bobby George. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he was celebrated as much for his colorful attire as for his dart-throwing skills.

His distinctive fashion—a dazzling cape, shimmering sequins, and an abundance of sparkle—accompanied by an entrance to Queen’s “We Are The Champions”—set a precedent that urged fans to join in on the merriment with equally eccentric outfits.

At the age of 79, Bobby is featured in the upcoming series from Sky Documentaries, Dart Kings, which dives into the legends of the sport and airs this Saturday.

He believes the defining moment in darts history came during the 1980 Embassy World Darts Championship final against Eric “The Crafty Cockney” Bristow.

Adorned in a sequined shirt, Bobby made headlines when officials supplied him with a candelabra to carry—paying tribute to the iconic performer Liberace, who was well-known for using one in his shows.

He recalls to The Sun: “I thought, if I go all out with my attire—beyond a simple T-shirt—people would surely remember me.

“People would say, ‘Did you catch that Bobby George and his absurd outfit last night?’.

Fist pumps

“I emerged brandishing the candelabra and the audience lit their lighters.

“Eventually, I added a cloak and entrance music.”

Although walk-on music has become a staple in darts today, player attire is considerably more subdued compared to Bobby’s flamboyant style, reflecting the fancy dress worn by fans inspired by him.

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He continues: “Nowadays, darts would not have the same flair without walk-on music. But back then, it took a lot of courage to dress like I did.”

Bobby was no stranger to triumph, having won several major tournaments and reaching the World Championship finals in 1980—where he lost to Bristow—and again in 1994.

What set him apart from many of his contemporaries was not only his performance but also his lifestyle.

Unlike others, he didn’t indulge heavily in alcohol and instead sported a physique akin to a bodybuilder with matinee idol charm.

These qualities made him a prominent figure beyond the world of darts, often appearing on television talk shows and even participating in the BBC’s reality series, The Real Marigold Hotel.

Now living comfortably, Bobby resides in a lavish 17-room mansion in Colchester, Essex, surrounded by 12 acres of land and a fishing lake.

However, before finding fame and fortune in his darts career, Bobby held a variety of jobs, including nightclub bouncer, floor layer, and builder, where he was involved in tunneling for the London Underground’s Victoria Line during the 1960s.

Prior to turning professional, he honed his skills playing in pubs and clubs, and he now contends that modern players are somewhat spoiled.

They benefit from security to protect them from fans and are even restricted from enjoying pints at the oche.

Bobby states: “Today’s players are insulated.

“They’re pampered and shielded. You can’t mix with the crowd. Meeting them requires a paid meet-and-greet.

“You can’t even step outside for a smoke with them; it’s not allowed.

“During my era with today’s players, I had security with me.

“And they don’t drink while sporting their darts shirts—they’ve cleaned all that up.”

Having grown up in Newham, East London, Bobby faced challenges early on—losing his mother at the age of three and having a blind father, he took on various physically demanding jobs until he discovered his talent for darts at 30.

His interest was ignited during a fishing trip off the coast of Ireland near Cork when bad weather forced him to find another way to pass the time.

A friend named Malcolm proposed a game of darts at a nearby pub, and to his surprise, Bobby found himself quite skilled for a beginner.

He recalls: “Malcolm told me, ‘You should really take this up—you’re better than I am, and I’ve played for 16 years’. I thought, ‘This is easy’. We played continuously—people came from different pubs to join us, and they all bought me drinks. I thought, ‘What a fantastic game this is’.”

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Before that moment, Bobby was not particularly invested in darts, perceiving it as lacking masculinity.

That said, he suspects that his youthful days of throwing knives at targets helped him acclimate quickly to the game of darts.

He clarifies: “I didn’t throw knives at anyone; I just aimed at a target.” Within just a few years of going professional, he was enjoying considerable success.

Aspiring superstar

In 1979, he won the esteemed News of the World tournament—the first nationally broadcast darts event in the UK, which aired on ITV from 1972 to 1985, and again in 1987 and 1988—as the inaugural player to secure a major title without losing a single leg.

Today, he is celebrated as one of the greatest players never to win a world championship title—having come agonizingly close twice.

From a young age, he formed a close bond with fellow East Londoner Bristow, frequently driving the young talent around for matches when he couldn’t drive himself due to age.

As their careers soared, the matches were as thrilling as Bobby’s flamboyant costumes—especially notable during the legendary 1980 final.

They would uplift each other with fist pumps following successful shots.

Bobby reflects: “We truly put on a show out there—both of us.”

Eric, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 60, often ruffled feathers among other players with his confident demeanor.

Bobby remembers: “He was a cocky little bugger. He could come across as somewhat rude, but he certainly knew how to play his darts.”

Unfortunately for Bobby, Eric was frequently in top form, particularly during the 1980 final when he pocketed a then-stunning prize of £4,500, which equates to about £20,000 today, and planted a kiss on Bobby’s cheek at the end of their contentious match.

Yet beneath Eric’s brash exterior lay a man who battled with the pressures of the sport.

He once suffered from “dartitis,” which made players jittery, and would often find himself in tears during victorious moments.

Bobby jokes: “He was a bit of a softy, wasn’t he? What would he have done if he lost?”

The premiere episode of the three-part series Dart Kings will highlight the life of world champion Eric.

He undoubtedly stood as one of the legends of the sport, but during a record-breaking BBC broadcast enjoyed by eight million viewers in 1983, he faced a shocking defeat to qualifier Keith Deller in the BDO World Championship final.

The underdog Deller, who was just 23, noted that Eric “had no respect for me.”

Recently, the darts spotlight shifted to newcomer Luke Littler, who advanced to the PDC World Darts Championship final in January at merely 16—a feat that concluded with a loss to world No. 1 Luke Humphries.

Now 17 and ranked No. 4 globally, the kebab-loving teenager from Runcorn, Cheshire, has rapidly climbed the ranks.

Broken back

Yet Bobby offers a word of caution: “He’s a gifted young player, but it’s easy to go from hero to zero in darts if you’re not careful.”

Indeed, the sport can be unpredictable, and surprises are all too common.

However, one notable transformation in contemporary darts is the heightened fitness of the players.

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In the 1980s, players like two-time world champion Jocky Wilson, who passed away in 2012 at age 62 and also appears in the Sky series, gained fame for their heavy drinking on stage.

Bobby reminisces about his friendship with the Scots icon, recalling an instance when Jocky, so intoxicated, lost track of the side of the board on which his score resided.

In contrast, Bobby, who has two sons with his wife Marie and an additional son and daughter from a previous marriage, opted to live a life free from heavy drinking.

He notes: “I enjoy a drink, but you’re not going to perform well when you’re hammered.”

It was his strength, rather than indulgence, that drew attention.

Chuckling, he states: “I had muscles—I used to dig tunnels, but I never stepped foot in a gym. When I made my entrance into the darts realm, people remarked that I didn’t resemble the typical darts player. But nowadays, few are overweight.”

Regrettably, two injuries—one a ruptured spleen in 1981 and the other a fractured back sustained while leaping in celebration during a quarter-final match that led to the finals in 1994—adversely impacted his career.

He only learned about his broken back about a month after the final, requiring eight titanium screws to be placed at the base of his spine to stand upright once more.

Yet Bobby still reflects fondly on the thrill of playing to an electric audience.

He shares: “The atmosphere electrifies your performance. You can’t replicate that energy alone in your living room. It’s indescribable unless you’ve lived it.”

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