The professional darts sport is losing two familiar faces who have defined an era. Ceremony master John McDonald and caller George Noble will end their careers after the 2026 World Championship.
A legendary duo is saying goodbye to darts. As the PDC announced on Wednesday evening, ceremony master John McDonald and caller George Noble will retire after the 2026 Darts World Championship (starting December 11 LIVE on SPORT1 ).
“I have now worked with the PDC for two decades and loved every moment of it, but now is the right time for me to hang up my microphone,” explained McDonald, who has announced players in his inimitable style at all major PDC events since 2007.
The final of the upcoming Darts World Championship would be “the perfect place to stop, as we celebrate the climax of the greatest event there has ever been in this sport,” continued the 65-year-old.
Similar to McDonald, George Noble also shaped the image of professional darts as a caller for decades. Before switching to the PDC almost two decades ago, the Englishman led the BDO’s team of referees.
“I’ve had a brilliant career spanning over three decades and spent my entire life in this sport, but now is the right time for me to retire from refereeing,” said the 56-year-old with the nickname “The Puppy.”
His farewell doesn’t come completely out of the blue: At the end of May, Noble revealed in a TV interview that the 2025 season would be his last at the oche.