Mark Webster will return to Sky Sports' Premier League Darts coverage on Thursday in Birmingham, months after stepping away from the sport's broadcast scene when he began chemotherapy for hairy cell leukaemia.
The former BDO world champion said on X that he had been cleared to resume Premier League duty, writing that things had improved since an interview was filmed and that he was looking forward to being back among the action. Wayne Mardle replied that he was looking forward to seeing Webster.
Webster first made his diagnosis public in January, when he revealed he had been diagnosed with the rare blood cancer. He has not worked at a darts event since beginning chemotherapy in February, and said Premier League February 5 in Newcastle was the last time he was on duty. In the interview with Darts World, he said the condition sounds worse than it is in many cases, adding that it has a good prognosis and that 95 per cent of cases are successful.
The update matters because Webster is still undergoing treatment, even as he prepares to return to work. He said he expects to be put into remission at some point, but described the pace of his recovery as frustrating. He said he can work with people only in sensible environments and that he has had to trust the medical team looking after him, even when he does not always get the answers he wants.
That tension runs through his return. Webster is back on screen while still managing an illness that has forced him to scale back a job built on constant travel and live events. He said the day-to-day routine has been difficult because he is used to being busy, but added that he is delighted things have improved enough to allow him back in Birmingham.
The comeback gives Sky Sports one of its most familiar voices back at Premier League Darts, but it also serves as a reminder that the recovery is still ongoing. Webster is returning to work, not declaring the treatment over, and his next appearance will be watched with the same relief that greeted his announcement in January.
