There are certain names in darts that never entirely evaporate into the periphery, irrespective of how long they have been absent from the relentless cacophony of the professional circuit. Adrian Lewis is unequivocally one of them. DartsWorld recently caught up with the lovable ‘Stokie’ and you can see.
The two-time World Champion remains one of the sport’s most naturally mercurial talents, a player capable of conjuring tungsten magnificence with almost nonchalant swagger. And now, after stepping away from full-time competition, the murmurs surrounding a potential comeback are beginning to swell into something far louder and infinitely more tantalising.
Speaking to Sky Sports and radio X presenter Polly James during a relaxed yet wonderfully candid catch-up, Lewis opened up about life away from the PDC treadmill, the possibility of returning via Q School, and the lingering competitive inferno still simmering beneath the surface. For now, however, the Stoke-on-Trent icon appears content away from the suffocating demands and perpetual turbulence of life on tour.
“I’m enjoying life at the minute”, he explained. “I’m doing lots of exhibitions with MODUS. They call me Mecca Lewis now because I’m doing all the Mecca Bingos! But yeah, I’m really enjoying it.”
Those exhibition evenings, often unfolding before packed local audiences scattered across Britain, have become something of a rekindling process for the decorated arrow-smith. More importantly, they have allowed him to reconnect with the familiar faces and personalities he spent years traversing the country alongside.
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“It’s just seeing all the lads again on a regular basis. The likes of Luke Humphries, Gezzy [Gerwyn Price], Jonny Clayton, Nathan [Aspinall]… well, all of them really. Mixing with them again has been good. It’s building me back up again.”
And according to James, Aide has certainly not been merely making up the numbers during those exhibitions either. The competitive snarl and mischievous edge remain gloriously intact. See the full interview on our fast developing You Tube channel.
“Sometimes… majority of the time”, Lewis joked when asked about defeating current stars on the exhibition circuit. “We let Nathan win the odd one though, just to keep him back down in his lane!”
Beneath the humour, however, resides a player methodically and conscientiously preparing himself for what increasingly feels like a legitimate return to professional darts. The legendary Stoke Ace admitted as the subject of Q School inevitably surfaced:
“That’s what I’m building up towards. At the moment, I’m just trying to get myself right mentally and physically. That’s my aim.”
The physical demands of modern darts – something routinely underestimated by outsiders – are clearly at the forefront of his thinking. Lewis spoke candidly about the gruelling nature of the contemporary circuit, particularly the incessant travel demands attached to Pro Tour and European Tour weekends.
“You need to be pretty fit now. You’re away from home five days a week sometimes. I’m not getting any younger either. I’m 41 now.”
Hardly close to pension age, but nonetheless, Lewis seems to imply he is getting old. To combat that, Jackpot has embraced a markedly healthier lifestyle, incorporating exercise, lengthy walks, tennis sessions, and a concerted effort to improve his overall wellbeing.
“I’m doing lots of walking and exercising. Today I’ve been having a little game of tennis with Mark Webster. I’m eating healthier and just trying to look after myself a bit more.”
Mentally, meanwhile, the process has proven equally imperative.
“I’m doing long walks, going fishing, just trying to get my mind right and work out what I need to do moving forward.”
There is also an admirable honesty from Adrian regarding the sacrifices a comeback would necessitate. The romanticism attached to returning to the grandest stages comes tethered to far harsher realities – airports, hotels, questionable fast food, and endless weeks spent away from home comforts.
“That would be the negative for me. Being away from home five days a week. Apart from that, everything else is positive.”
And while the financial rewards in modern darts continue to escalate into eye-watering territory, Lewis insists monetary incentives have never been the driving force behind his potential return. Instead, the motivation appears centred around one tantalisingly seductive objective.
“A third world title? That would be the ultimate. If I could win that, then I’d probably retire and say, “That’s me done.”” Crucially, he still believes it remains attainable. “Do I think I’ve got another one in me? I do, yeah. One hundred percent.”
That conviction – that unmistakable, unshakeable self-belief – is precisely what transformed the double World Champion into such a formidable and often devastating force during his pomp. Even now, after time away from the sport, it remains palpably present.
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The current boom period in darts, fuelled in no small part by the meteoric ascension of Luke Littler, has evidently helped reignite Lewis’ competitive instincts too.
“I love what Luke Littler does”, he admitted. “I think the game needs a bit of needle as well.”
Lewis himself was never exactly bashful when it came to controversy during his playing days, famously producing combustible on-stage moments which only enhanced his reputation as one of the sport’s great entertainers. And judging by the overwhelming public reaction to comeback whispers, the appetite for his return remains enormous.
“People always say to me that they want me back. It is nice. I do feel loved like that.”
The support network surrounding him also appears exceptionally strong. The former UK Open and European Championship winner revealed that even Phil Taylor has remained in regular contact, offering both encouragement and counsel.
“Phil said you’ve got to do what makes you happy. If you’re not happy, take a step back, reset, and then see where you go from there.”
In quintessential Lewis fashion, the conversation eventually descended into playful absurdity, including a story about Taylor randomly texting him before Christmas claiming he was going to “come around your house and smash you up” after reinstalling his practice board.
Will Adrian Seek The Darts Jackpot Once Again?
Whether Lewis ultimately returns through Q School remains undecided, although he hinted a final determination could arrive by November. Yet, listening to him speak, the desire feels unmistakably authentic. The fire has not been extinguished. If anything, it sounds as though it is slowly but inexorably roaring back into life.
And for darts fans of a certain vintage, the prospect of witnessing the iconic four-time World Cup champion once again striding onto the grand stage – swagger intact, crowd reverberating around him – feels irresistibly exciting.
——ENDS——
Interview: Conducted by Polly James and produced by Paul Mason
Images: PDC
