Originally Posted by Darren Lethem:
“I think you are writing off Dave Clark a little too soon there fella. He doesn't always do the interviews as he is up in the studio. Rod Studd did a fair few in the week. Don't assume it is because of Dave's illness. Hopefully it won't stop him doing his job”
I'm not writing him off at all - I've always liked Dave and hope he continues on the darts for many years to come.
However, I'm think I'm right in saying that as of the late 2000s, he would almost always conduct the interviews with the champion and runner-up on the stage after the finals of big tournaments. Rod Studd has been used in this capacity on the Sky Sports darts tournament finals I have seen over the past year or so, which would perhaps indicate that they have passed this role onto him for whatever reason. Maybe this is not to do with Dave's illness but more that they feel that Rod is a solid interviewer and can do just as good a job. Or maybe, in this instance at least as the final finished about 10 minutes before the hour, they knew they'd have some time to fill to take them up to the off-air point after the trophy presentation and wanted to have their full studio team in situ.
I am sorry if I have indeed made an incorrect judgement about Dave's illness, like you I wouldn't want to see it stopping him from doing his job. But this is one of the smaller aspects of his role, so it's not a major change in the grand scheme of things.