There will be a new look to ITV’s darts coverage in 2026, with a close friend of Laura Woods taking over from popular presenter Jacqui Oatley. While most of the sport’s major tournaments, such as the World Championship, are broadcast on Sky Sports, ITV has a selection of high-profile events, including the World Series, World Masters and UK Open.
The channel will continue as the free-to-air broadcaster of darts in the UK after agreeing a new deal with the PDC until 2028. However, from this year, TV coverage of those tournaments will be produced in-house by Matchroom, which owns the PDC, instead. That has led to several on-screen changes, including the addition of a new host, Gabbie Partington, who will be on duty at the upcoming World Series events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Partington is no stranger to darts or the PDC, having presented ITV’s coverage of the World Series events in New York and Poland last year. She has often been seen on stage at major darts tournaments, like the World Championship and the World Matchplay, whipping up the crowd during ad breaks.
A sporting all-rounder, the 32-year-old has also worked on golf and snooker and been a matchday presenter for Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 2024, it was announced she had joined the presenting team of the World Snooker Tour (WST), which is also run by Matchroom.
Partington is close to TNT Sports presenter Woods, who attended her pal’s birthday celebrations. In an Instagram picture of the pair together, Woods wrote: “Happy birthday my little darling.”
Oatley had been the face of darts on ITV for more than a decade before announcing she was leaving the broadcaster at the end of last year. After her final event, the Players Championship Finals, she posted on X: “Heading home for the final time from @ITVSport duty after a decade with a brilliant production team.
“First three years were presenting football, including Euro 2016, World Cup 2018, with darts, darts, darts throughout. Can’t express how grateful I am to have worked with such amazing people.
“The producers, led by Phil Heslop, are incredible, the directors, spotters, pundits, commentators, crew behind the camera, sound guys, graphics team, Jonesy (who tells me off for being an inch off my standing spot) – everyone. Always smiling while working hard – most of all, they care about the output.
“Because that’s what it’s all about: the viewer’s experience. We hope our genuine enjoyment came across. Back to football for me now but I’ll still be going to the darts. With a pint in hand instead of a mic. Bye for now x.”
Another ITV regular, pundit Chris Mason, wrote before the tournament: “One more event to do with the current team before production is put in the safe hands of Matchroom.
“18 years is a long old time to spend with colleagues that have become friends. Darts of course will be staying on ITV Sport but it’s going feel and look very different.”