Bobby is one of the most colourful, charismatic and entertaining players in the history of darts.

He was a late starter, not picking up a dart until he was 29. In 1976 he won the very first singles event he entered. That was a regional title but within three years he had arrived as a world-class player, with an incredible victory in the News Of The World Championship.

Bobby secured his place as the People's Champion in the 1980 Embassy World Championship. Seen by millions on BBC Television, an epic 1980 final against Eric Bristow is still regarded as one of the greatest darts matches of all time. Bobby made his first-ever entrance with sequinned shirt and candelabra. He became the Liberace of televised darts and has entertained in tournaments and exhibitions ever since.

Over the years, Bobby has represented England on 26 occasions and remains in the list of all-time top 10 winning players for England. The only trophy to have eluded him is the World Final. He should have won it in 1994 when he faced John Parrott in the Final but he played the match in considerable pain – it was later revealed Bobby had broken his back.

It was in 1999 that Bobby took another change in direction by becoming a BBC television presenter at the Embassy. Such was his success that he has been a much respected studio pundit at every Embassy since then. Today, he co-presents each World Championship with Ray Stubbs and is known as the BBC's "face of darts".