Jacqui Oatley has recently bid farewell to ITV after being part of the network for more than ten years. Known for her expertise in commentary and presenting, Oatley has been a prominent figure in covering football and darts for the popular channel.
Nearly two decades ago, at the age of 50, Oatley made history as the first female commentator on BBC’s renowned show Match of the Day. Since then, she has maintained her involvement with BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports, showcasing her versatility in sports coverage.
After the conclusion of the Players Championship Finals, Oatley confirmed her departure from ITV, where she had been a key part of the channel’s darts coverage for over a decade. Expressing her gratitude for the experience, Oatley shared her sentiments on social media, highlighting her time presenting football events like Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, alongside extensive darts coverage.
Moving forward, ITV will continue airing darts tournaments on ITV4 and ITVX, now managed by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom company. The departure of Oatley and fellow commentator Ned Boulting marks the end of an era for ITV Sports, while the network will maintain its broadcast of major darts events.
ITV’s Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, recently announced the extension of live darts coverage on ITV Sport, emphasizing the commitment to providing top-tier darts events for UK viewers. The partnership between ITV and the Professional Darts Corporation is set to continue, ensuring free-to-air coverage of popular darts tournaments for British fans.
In a separate development, Sky Sports has introduced reduced prices for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season. Fans can now enjoy an array of live matches across various sports, including the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, golf, and darts, underlining Sky’s extensive sports coverage offerings.