Luke Littler sends heartwarming message to Wayne Mardle on Sky Sports icon’s TV return

Luke Littler warmly welcomed Wayne Mardle back to the darts commentary box after a break due to the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Donna. The 51-year-old pundit returned to Sky Sports for the start of the Premier League season on Thursday. Mardle had taken a step back from the World Championship following his wife's death, which happened before the tournament. After more than a month away, the ex-darts star was back in action, joining Rod Studd to commentate on reigning world champion Luke Littler's first match of the new season against Michael van Gerwen.

His return was felt by colleagues, fans and players alike, with the 18-year-old Littler taking to social media after his narrow 6-5 defeat to the Dutchman to honour Mardle. After the commentator expressed his relief at being back at work, writing on X: "I needed that", Littler responded with: "Great to have you back". Despite his extended absence, Mardle didn't mention the reason for his time away during the exciting match. His absence at the time was announced by fellow presenter Emma Paton, who said: "If you are a regular viewer of Sky Sports Darts, you will notice that Wayne is not here with us this evening.

"Wayne is the heart and soul of everything we do here at Sky Sports Darts. But the heart of his world, his wonderful wife Donna, sadly passed away earlier this week after a short illness. We will be remembering Donna throughout this tournament. Wayne, you are in our thoughts, you are in our hearts, we love you very much. And we will see you very soon," reports the Express. He had quite the match to return to, with Van Gerwen claiming a thrilling win over Littler despite the teenager averaging a higher score of 113.91. The figure ranks as the highest ever achieved in Belfast and the second-highest average in a defeat in Premier League history.

Littler's narrow defeat to his rival came days after he was criticised by the Dutch darts icon for arriving 45 minutes late to a photoshoot on Wednesday. The teenager overslept for the photo session, leaving his fellow Premier League players waiting as Van Gerwen offered a staunch warning to PDC bosses to "stop treating him like a baby". "He's not a baby anymore, he's 18 years old now, the 35-year-old said. "It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way. It's a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions. Simple as that. If he turns up late for an interview, I don't mind! But seven other people are waiting for him. That's not very nice, is it?".