Darts legend Bobby George is recovering after undergoing surgery to repair a faulty heart valve.
The 80-year-old, affectionately known as the ‘King of Bling’, remains one of the sport’s most recognisable personalities following a career that spanned more than three decades between 1977 and 2009. Beyond his achievements on the oche, George also became a familiar face on television, working as a presenter and promoter during the BBC’s coverage of major darts events, including the BDO World Championship.
News of the procedure was shared by respected darts referee Richard Ashdown, who revealed that George required urgent treatment. Ashdown posted a photo of the former star smiling from his hospital bed, reassuring fans that he was in good spirits.
He explained that George underwent a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive procedure in which a replacement heart valve is guided through an artery and positioned inside the damaged valve, allowing the heart to pump blood more efficiently.
Ashdown praised George’s trademark sense of humour, saying he had visited him before the operation and found him “laugh-a-minute” despite the seriousness of the situation. He ended his message by wishing the darts legend a speedy recovery.
George later confirmed the operation had gone well, sharing a photo of himself giving a thumbs-up from his hospital bed.
Posting on social media, he wrote: “Heart procedure done! Post-op observations doing well! Main thing… still here! Thanks for the get well wishes.”
Support quickly poured in from darts fans, many expressing relief that the former star was recovering well.
One supporter described George as their favourite player and wished him a quick recovery, while another urged him to follow doctors’ advice and take things easy. Others simply hailed him as “the king” and wished him a speedy return to full health.
George enjoyed a distinguished playing career, winning the prestigious News of the World Darts Championship twice, in 1979 and 1986.
He also reached the WDF World Championship final on two occasions, finishing runner-up to Eric Bristow in 1980 before losing to John Part in the 1994 final.
Away from darts, George is renowned for his larger-than-life lifestyle. He has spent decades living in an 18-bedroom mansion in Essex that he built around 30 years ago.
The sprawling property boasts a pub-style entertainment area complete with a bar and snooker table, while its 12-acre grounds include three private fishing lakes that reflect his passion for angling.
Among the many unusual items in his collection is perhaps his most famous talking point—one of his amputated toes.
George underwent the amputation of several toes in 1999 because of a painful inherited foot condition. Rather than disposing of one of them, he preserved it in a jar of vodka and has kept it on display in his home bar ever since.
Explaining the unusual keepsake in a previous interview, George joked that he was unable to obtain the proper preservation chemicals because they were considered too dangerous, so vodka became the next best option—and, according to him, it has remained there for more than 26 years.
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