TWO OF the most famous faces in darts will hang up their microphones at the climax to the 2025/26 PDC World Championship.
Master of Ceremonies John McDonald and top referee George Noble plan to retire after 20 days of darts action at Ally Pally on the night of Saturday January 3.
Londoner McDonald, 65, succeeded Phil Jones in 2007 and has worked full-time on PDC tournaments over the past 18 years.
He had previously been a part of The Showdown in 2004 and the Premier League.
McDonald is seen before most televised matches, announcing the players ahead of their walk-ons, and he is usually involved in the post-final on-stage ceremonies.
A former member of the Parachute Regiment and a news photographer, he began his career as a sports MC in boxing and has also covered snooker and pool amongst a wide range of sports over the past three decades.
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McDonald said: “I’ve spent two decades now working with the PDC and loved every moment, but the time is right for me to hang up my microphone.
“The World Darts Championship final will be the perfect place for me to end, as we celebrate the culmination of the biggest-ever event in the sport.
“I’m so proud to have been a part of the PDC’s journey during my time as Master of Ceremonies, and I’ll look forward to my remaining events on stage.”
Veteran referee Noble has also decided that the event in North London this festive period, which is the biggest ever and carries a £1million cheque for the champion, will be his final major competition.
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Noble has spent almost two decades officiating on the PDC circuit and is hugely respected throughout the sport, having previously spearheaded the BDO’s refereeing roster.
He has refereed in more than 300 major events all over the world, including 20 World Championships.
In the 2010 Premier League final, Noble became the first referee to call two nine-dart finishes in the same match.
There is a strong possibility the PDC will give the honour of calling the shots in the 2026 final, similar to what Russ Bray did when he quit in January 2024.
Noble said: “I’ve had a brilliant career in over three decades and spent my whole life in the sport, but the time is right for me to retire from refereeing.
“I’ll still be involved in darts away from refereeing, but this will give me the chance to spend more time with my family in future.
“I’d like to thank the PDC for the opportunity which I was given back in 2007.
“The sport has given me so many wonderful memories and opened up so many doors for me throughout my life.”
