Abigail Davies has become a standout figure in the darts world, having progressed from her humble beginnings as a Sky Sports runner to becoming a familiar face on camera at the World Championship.
She’s been interviewing players pre and post-match for several years now and has even joined the Ally Pally commentary team for the 2025 tournament alongside noted personalities like John Part, Glen Durrant and Laura Turner. It’s been a long journey for the Welshwoman.
Taking to social media ahead of last year’s Worlds, she detailed how it all started. “Six years ago, I did my first shift at Sky, as a runner at Ally Pally. A lot of tea making and an MSc degree later, it’s a dream to be back at the Worlds for Sky Sports Darts,” she wrote.
This latest installment at the tournaments represents a significant achievement in Davies’ career, the fruit of steadfast dedication and resilience leading to a realisation of a long-held aspiration. Her broadcasting talents have led her to opportunities with several other outlets, including the BBC, ITV and talkSPORT.
“It’s an absolute dream to be part of the Sky Sports Darts team,” she added on X. Her passion is unmistakable, and it’s no surprise that fans have taken to social networks to praise her dynamic coverage of the action.
Davies is versatile within sports broadcasting, offering her commentary not just in darts but also in football on Soccer Saturday and in snooker and pool. The revered Jeff Stelling even name-dropped her in a touching moment on his final time presenting the highlights show.
To Davies, Stelling is much more than just a broadcasting giant; he’s a mentor, a former colleague, and someone she holds in high esteem. “Jeff Stelling is my ultimate idol,” she said.
“When I joined Twitter, my bio read ‘when I grow up, I want to be Jeff Stelling!’ Shamefully, he was my first profile picture on Facebook!”
Davies isn’t just making waves professionally; her personal journey is equally stirring. Open about her fight with anorexia since her teen years, she has shared pivotal experiences candidly.
Posting a picture of herself working for Sky at a Swansea game, she wrote: “15-year-old me left a psychiatric unit for an evening to watch the Swans. From that night, watching the Swans gave me a reason to fight. Today I’m covering them for Soccer Saturday. This means so much to me.”
Davies has used her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, a cause that resonates deeply with fans and colleagues alike. Her story is one of triumph and influence, and she continues to use it to encourage positive change within the community.
After last year’s World Championship, she spoke candidly about her battles before the event. Her poignant words read: “Went to The Priory the day before the World Championship started. Final q (question) before I left: ‘Can you promise you’ll keep yourself alive over Christmas?’.
“So yeah, proud for doing what I needed to, to deal with anorexia/suicidal thoughts. Posting this for everyone in the same boat. We’ve got this.” On LinkedIn, she has reflected on her ongoing journey, recounting her experience from two different years at the Grand Slam. “Grand Slam 2023 – body was shutting down. Anorexia and suicidal thoughts controlled me again,” she explained.
“GS 2024 – learning to accept weight gain, don’t feel numb and continuing to work on self worth/esteem. Relapses can happen, mental illnesses can torment but taking back control is possible.”
Davies’ personal life often intersects with her professional one thanks to her engagement with Dan Dawson, a well-versed darts commentator and reporter for Sky and the PDC. The couple bring their love of darts into collaborations, including the popular podcast by Sky, Love The Darts.
Their own love story made a marked impression at the German Darts Championship in September 2024 when Dawson popped the question. Sharing the humorous and heartwarming moment online, Davies quipped: “I think he bought this ring to propose to Steve Beaton (Dan’s favourite player), but I’ll take it… Of course it happened at a Euro Tour.”
