Sid Waddell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sid Waddell (born August 10, 1940 in Alnwick, Northumberland) is a British born "Geordie" commentator and television personality. The son of a Northumberland miner, he attended King Edward's VI school (KEVI), Morpeth, and he went on to obtain a scholarship to St John's College in the University of Cambridge, where he graduated with a degree in modern history.

Contents 1 Early TV Career 2 Other Television Credits 3 PDC Darts 4 Waddell Quotes 5 References and links 6 External Links

[edit] Early TV Career

Shortly after finishing University, Waddell joined Granada Television working with Michael Parkinson on documentary programmes. In 1972 he moved to Yorkshire Television where he created the show Indoor League ^[1] which featured various pub games including darts. Between 1972 and 1974, he was a producer for over 600 editions of local news programme, Calendar.

In 1976, he switched to the BBC and his prior experience with televised darts helped him to become one of the commentators on the first World Professional Darts Championship when it began in 1978. He stayed with the BBC until 1994.

[edit] Other Television Credits

During his time with the BBC, Waddell penned ten episodes of a successful children's television series, Jossy's Giants in 1986. He was also the writer of two series of another children's show Sloggers which ran from 1994 to 1996.

His credits also include working with the eccentric scientist Magnus Pyke and was Alan Whicker’s producer on Whicker’s Women in 1972.

He worked on The Russell Harty Show and in 1993 did a series for Tyne Tees Television called Waddell’s World in which he was a butler to a posh Tweeddale family, a caravanner and on the dole.

He made one performance as the "Voice of the Balls" on the National Lottery Red Alert on BBC in 1999. He claims to have been sacked for being "too Geordie". ^[2]

[edit] PDC Darts

Contrary to popular belief, Waddell wasn't part of the PDC revolution from its beginning. Dave Lanning and John Gwynne were the commentators on the first PDC World Championship in 1994. Waddell was still with the BBC for the first BDO Championship after the split in 1994, although it was later in the year that he joined the Sky Sports commentary team.

Waddell now commentates on all major PDC televised darts tournaments as well as a number of billiards tournaments and pool competitions - including the Mosconi Cup.

He has written eleven published books, including biographies of John Lowe, Jocky Wilson and Phil Taylor.

[edit] Waddell Quotes

His skewed eloquence has won him great affection among fans and fellow commentators.

Here are just twenty lines from a great selection of commentary used by Waddell down the years.

1. "He's got a heart as big as Moby Dick!"
2. "That's the greatest comeback since Lazarus."
3. "Bristow reasons ... Bristow quickens ... Aaahhhhh, Bristow."
4. "Jocky Wilson ... what an athlete."
5. "He's about as predictable as a wasp on speed."
6. "When Alexander of Macedonia was 33 he cried salt tears because there were no more worlds to conquer - Bristow is only 27"
7. "The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in with a portion of chips... you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them."
8. "As they say at the DHSS, we're getting the full benefit here."
9. "There hasn't been this much excitement since the Romans fed the Christians to the lions."
10. "This lad has more checkouts than Tescos."
11. "There's only one word for that - magic darts!"
12. "Keith Deller's not just an underdog, he's an underpuppy!"
13. "Even Hypotenuse would have trouble working out these angles."
14. "Eat your heart out Harold Pinter, we've got drama with a capital D in Essex."
15. "If you had to throw a knife at your wife in the circus, you'd want to throw it like that."
16. "That could be a total eclipse of the Part..."
17. "Painter's not bothering with an undercoat... He's gone straight to gloss!"
18. "That's quality with a capital 'K'!"
19. "Hang on to your electric kettles..."
20. "Barneveld's copying of Taylor's understacker will be his downfall" (This was mentioned at least twice in commentary during the 2007 PDC World Championship by Waddell. Barneveld went on to beat Taylor in an epic final on New Year's Day)
21. "The players are under so much duress, it's like Duressic Park!"
22. "He's as happy as a penguin in a microwave."
23. "Like the lion in winter, like the leopard in the snows of kilimanjaro, Lowe is experienced, he will survive."
24. "He's got the eyes of a dying lizard!!"

[edit] References and links

1. ^ Profile from Waddell's web site
2. ^ Waddell's television career

[edit] External Links

• Classic Waddell Commentary from Waddell's Official web site.