Alan Warriner has criticized ITV for allegedly dismissing him from their darts coverage team without prior notification, despite him publicly announcing his departure earlier. The former darts player claims he learned about the termination of his two-decade-long association with the broadcaster only when the PDC revealed ITV’s 2026 coverage team through a social media video.
The video unveiling the new ITV lineup for darting coverage highlighted Pete Graves and Gabbie Partington as the presenters, with Mark Webster and Wayne Mardle providing punditry. However, Warriner’s absence from the announcement drew attention, leading him to express his disappointment with ITV on social media.
In response to the backlash, a darts fan pointed out that Warriner had previously bid farewell to ITV in November 2025, referencing his earlier post thanking them for 18 years of collaboration. Despite this, Warriner expressed his frustration at not being informed directly by ITV about his exclusion from the upcoming coverage team.
ITV recently secured a three-year deal with the PDC, guaranteeing free-to-air coverage of major darts tournaments until at least 2028. The agreement includes broadcasting rights for prestigious events such as the World Masters, the UK Open, and the Players Championship Finals. Additionally, ITV will cover all international events of the World Series of Darts.
The new broadcast team for ITV’s darting coverage will feature commentators Mark Wilson and Dan Dawson, along with expert analysis from Glen Durrant. Pete Graves and Gabbie Partington will lead the presenting duties, while Mark Webster and Wayne Mardle will provide expert analysis.
The upcoming season’s coverage will kick off with the World Masters, as announced by Graves and Durrant on social media. The network aims to enhance the viewing experience for darts enthusiasts with a mix of seasoned professionals and fresh talent contributing to the broadcast team.