Wayne Mardle called out over UK Open outfit as ITV darts presenter says ‘he’s let the side down’

Wayne Mardle has been playfully called out by fans for a fashion mishap during coverage of the UK Open Darts Championship.

The former darts star turned pundit was part of the broadcast team as Luke Littler successfully defended his title in Minehead. Mardle, 52, appeared alongside the presenting team near the oche wearing a grey jacket and black trousers.

However, it was his choice of footwear that caught viewers’ attention. While the rest of the male presenters opted for white trainers, Mardle showed up in black ones.

The difference became more noticeable when compared to his colleagues, including Pete Graves and Glen Durrant, who both wore white trainers. Meanwhile, Alexa Rendell paired her outfit with black leather boots.

Because of that, Mardle ended up standing out from the rest of the team.

Graves saw the humour in the situation after a fan pointed it out on social media. He jokingly replied: “He’s let the side down there.”

Fans quickly joined in on the joke. One wrote, “He has to be different.” Another added, “If he isn’t going to wear white trainers, then it’s a leopard print skirt and black boots.” A third quipped, “Because Wayne dressed his age.”

The tournament itself delivered plenty of excitement. World No.1 Littler successfully defended his title with an 11–7 victory over James Wade in the final. The match was a rematch of the 2025 final, where Littler also beat Wade, though by a larger 11–2 margin.

On his way to the final, Littler overcame tough challenges from Danny Noppert and Josh Rock in the quarter-finals and semi-finals. During the semi-final, there was a bizarre moment when one of his darts bounced out of the board during a checkout attempt.

The teenage sensation ultimately walked away with the £120,000 winner’s prize.

Meanwhile, the broadcast wasn’t without controversy. During the live coverage, ITV was forced to issue an on-air apology after fans were heard chanting an offensive song aimed at Keir Starmer.