I think Pearson will play a part in the final tomorrow- just a hunch. I think the Sky pecking order is: Waddell, Gwynne, Lanning, Pearson, Pyke, Harrington, Studd, Bristow

I would go with that. Pyke is a freelancer so is behind the Sky employees like Pearson. That said I would be suprised if Pearson did any of the final. I would have thought Sid and Dave Lanning and then Sid and John Gwynne. Seems a bit odd bringing Nige back for just one quarter final though doesn't it ?

I guess Sky are thinking that Lanning ( mid 70s ), Gwynne ( mid 60s ) and the increasingly annoying Waddell ( 60s ) will be due to call it a day soon so they are grooming their successors.

A couple of points -Pyke is obviously strong enough to be their main darts commentator of the future.

And Sky do an awful loft of Rugby League.

So why not try to get Pyke signed up on contract?

I have a feeling Pearson may get one half of the final tonight possibly at the expense of Lanning.

I think Pearson may do the first part too. From past finals (pre-2005) Waddell didn't do all the game, he only did the last half- but I think he will do the entire game tonight.

Pyke does rugby league for 5 Live- he is certainly better than Ben Proe (who is awful)- he is Sky's 3rd choice. Pyke could certainly do some national league games and the Catalans home games which are all covered.

Ah but who is Sky's 4th choice commentator on RL ? After Eddie Hemmings, Bill Arthur and Ben Proe ? Rod Studd. Maybe he is the man they are grooming. He can do two sports, Pearson does two sports and Gwynne does reports for Soccer Saturday.

Both James Parrack and Drew Gordon on Eurosport are not happy with the newly expanded FINA World Swimming Championships, whereby it's open to every country regardless of ability.

Gwynne also does Sky Sports News updates on rugby league (and the odd time on Sale- in the Yawnion). I thought Gwynne's main sport on radio was cricket.

Studd also does Real Radio on a Thurs night (rugby league discussion programme). Do you know what else Ben Proe does commentary wise?

Congratulations! One of our best posters too!

Yeah I'd go along with this, excluding this week it does appear that Nigel Pearson has risen above Stuart Pyke in the Sky Sports pecking order and its understandable why he has as a Sky employee.

I remember reading in Charles Sale's Sports Agenda column (can't find a link, I'm afraid), that Sky Sports, in light of ITV's coverage of the 2007 Grand Slam of Darts, had offered both Pearson and Pyke contracts that would exclusively tie them to Sky's darts coverage while allowing them to freelance on other sports elsewhere.

Pearson signed his contract but Pyke clearly hasn't, what with his involvement in ITV's GSOD coverage in 2008 (as well as his work covering the Championship League and on Nuts TV).

Therefore it stands to reason that Pearson would now find himself higher in the Sky pecking order than Pyke.

As for giving Nigel a part of the World Matchplay Final - I personally think it's high time that Nigel got his chance to commentate on a TV final, but given his lack of involvement at this year's tournament, not this one.

Personally, I'd have liked to have seen Nigel commentate on the Premier League final - as during the group stage, he seemed to get to commentate on a number of the highest-profile matches alongside Sid.

If I remember correctly, he covered at least one Taylor-Wade, Taylor-Van Barneveld and Van Barneveld-Wade game as well as the first Taylor-King game when King was leading the table.

On the basis of this, it came as a big surprise to me he wasn't used on Premier League Finals Night at all (given that he wasn't working on talkSPORT's coverage of the Championship Play-Off Final that day).

So I'd like to hear Nigel get given the chance to do the early stages of a final (unless he did Las Vegas, I don't think he's covered one yet), and I think it will happen in time - but given he's only covered the one game in Blackpool this year, I wouldn't use him on this one.



As for who will do tonight's final, personally I think it will be Sid Waddell full way through with Dave Lanning for the first half and John Gwynne for the second. We'll see later tonight though.

By the way, congratulations to Nigel & his wife on the birth of their son.

The only problem with that is that Pyke is an excellent darts commentator and Pearson is a poor one.
Mainly because he SHOUTS AT YOU all the time, but also due to his lack of background knowledge which has been shown up by the much more informed Rod Studd this week.

Don't agree with you Hayden (about Pearson being a poor commentator, I think most would agree that Pyke is excellent).

I personally like Nigel's excitable style and genuine enthusiasm for the sport. It's a colourful sport and Nigel makes it sound lively and brings home the dramatic moments.

Granted he doesn't seem quite as knowledgeable as some of the others on things like the scoring and history of the game, but he does know the players, can relate to their lifestyles and genuinely seems to care about the fortunes of those he commentates on outside of the top few.

It's all about a contrast of differing styles and I think Nigel's adds to a good blend in the Sky commentary box.

But hey, I know a fair few people disagree with me but its horses for courses, and with so much darts on TV there is room for all of them on the Sky team.

In 10 years time I could see Pearson being in Waddell's role, Pyke succeeding Lanning and Studd being the new Gwynne.

Well argued defence of Pearson- I still disagree but it's nice to disagree on here in a civil manner for a change.

In the spirit of consensus I have been slighlty harsh on pearson- he isn't awful on the darts- its just that I believe others are better. He is far better on darts than John Anderson and Driscoll are on football for example. I felt his 9 dart world championship call was poor- a bit shouty at times

I would link him to Paul Hinks in the fact that Bray, Sprendley and Noble are 3 better callers- but Hinks is not awful- just quite a bit behind the other callers who are superb

Thanks for the kind words Hayden.

Changing tact a bit: -

Le Tour de France, Stage 21, ITV4 live coverage.

Gary Imlach presenting alongside Chris Boardman.

Commentary from Phil Liggett & Paul Sherwen.

The reporters should be Ned Boulting & Matt Rendell.

I think that Bob Roll (of Versus) was also doing interviews.

I can't remember if British Eurosport's team was posted but it consisted of:
Studio - James Richardson, Brian Smith, Stephen Roache and Magnus Dickstat(?)
In situ - David Harmon, Sean Kelly and Dan Lloyd.

I didn't catch Bob Roll doing any of the interviews during the live coverage today, but he might have earlier on in the Tour.

In the end, the interviews ITV took were by Ned Boulting (with Bradley Wiggins) and Matt Rendell (with Mark Cavendish).

Bob has been used by ITV during some of the live stages of the Tour, but as a pundit rather than a reporter as far as I'm aware.

Ian, thanks for the Eurosport details.

Sorry, Bob Roll was during earlier stages.

Live World Matchplay Darts Final - Sky Sports
Commentators: Sid Waddell & Dave Lanning

I didn't post this until now because I thought they would change things

Commentators - Sid Waddell ( whole game ), Dave Lanning ( legs 1-15 ) and John Gwynne ( leg 16 onwards )

Short nights work for Gwynney then

Even though others have beaten me to it:

World Matchplay Darts Final, Sky Sports 1

Dave Clark presenting with Rod Harrington & Eric Bristow

Phil Taylor v Terry Jenkins - Sid Waddell with Dave Lanning (leg 1-15) & John Gwynne (leg 16 onwards)

For the BBC Clare Balding presented in the studio with punditry from Mark Foster

Sharron Davies was poolside, with commentary from Andy Jameson and Adrian Moorhouse

Magnus Backstedt. Carlton Kirby was in Paris aswell, much better in this kind of role than doing pure commentary.


Not suprised, when I flicked over earlier they were into Heat 19 of one of the Men's 50m events

Congrats aswell Ian btw

Think these two are fast becoming a really enjoyable listen. Both very knowledgable and do provide great coverage.

Yeah I enjoyed them at the Olympics. Fantastic pairing and clearly show their enthusiasm