An era didn’t simply end at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night – it took a bow, soaked in applause, reverence and memory. With the final dart thrown between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen, two of the most influential figures ever to stand around the oche rather than on it stepped away, their legacy formally sealed in perpetuity.
MC John McDonald and referee, George Noble have been inducted into the Professional Darts Corporation Hall of Fame – a recognition that goes far beyond ceremony. It is an acknowledgement that for over three decades, the heartbeat, rhythm and theatre of professional darts has been shaped not only by those throwing arrows, but by those framing the moment.
McDonald’s voice is the soundtrack of modern darts. Since taking over full-time MC duties in 2007 following Phil Jones, he has been the man who turned walk-ons into rituals and introductions into incantations. Long before that, he was already part of the fabric – lending his presence to major events such as The Showdown in 2004 and the fledgling years of the Premier League. Over time, his unmistakable cadence, theatrical flair and booming gravitas transformed him into one of the most instantly recognisable voices in the sport.
That authority didn’t arrive by accident. Before darts ever beckoned, McDonald served with the Parachute Regiment and later worked as a press photographer. His journey into presenting came via the boxing world before expanding across numerous sports, each chapter refining a stagecraft that now feels inseparable from the PDC itself. When McDonald speaks, darts listens.
Alongside him, George Noble brought order, composure and gravitas to the chaos. Nearly two decades on the PDC circuit followed a distinguished spell with the BDO, where he led the refereeing team and earned universal respect. Now 57, Noble’s calm authority became a constant under the Ally Pally lights. Seven nine-darters announced on the World Championship stage bear his voice, including the historic first perfect leg in PDC World Championship history, delivered by Raymond van Barneveld in 2009.
When the inductions were announced, PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter captured the magnitude of their impact perfectly.
“John and George have played an instrumental role in the PDC’s growth over the last 20 years. John’s enthusiasm, passion and his ability to create an atmosphere through his delivery has been one of the main reasons why darts has become so loved. Someone has to set the scene, and I think John’s voice has done that so well for us.”
Porter was equally effusive when reflecting on Noble’s arrival.
“When George came across to the PDC, there were quite a few players coming over from the BDO on a regular basis, and it was Tommy Cox, our Tournament Director, who persuaded him to join the PDC. At the time, it was that big it felt like signing a player. George really added to our roster of referees, and he’s been a brilliant signing for us.”
Their induction places McDonald and Noble among the sport’s immortals – sharing Hall of Fame company with Barry Hearn, founders Dick Allix and Tommy Cox, iconic referee Russ Bray, and legendary players including Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Dennis Priestley, Rod Harrington and John Part. Former MC Phil Jones and referees Freddie Williams and Bruce Spendley are also enshrined.
As Porter rightly concluded:
“We are incredibly grateful to John and George for their contributions, not just to the PDC but to darts in general, and their induction into the Hall of Fame recognises their enormous impact on the sport.”
And so the curtain falls. The voices fade. The whistle falls silent. But their imprint on darts – the sound, the structure, the soul – will echo forever beneath the chandeliers of Alexandra Palace.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
