MCDONALD OPENS UP ON EMOTIONAL REASON BEHIND RETIREMENT
03/01/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JOHN MCDONALD has opened up about the emotional reason behind his decision to retire after the World Darts Championship.
PDC’s legendary Master of Ceremonies, McDonald will hang up his microphone at the conclusion of the Premier event, bringing the curtain down on decades of service to the sport.
McDonald has been the voice of the oche since 2007, when he replaced Phil Jones as the PDC’s full-time MC.
A former Parachute Regiment soldier and news photographer, McDonald made his name as a sports announcer in boxing before becoming the iconic figure who introduced the world’s best to the stage for nearly 20 years.
The 65-year-old will take to the big stage for one final time during Luke Littler’s showpiece clash with Gian van Veen at Ally Pally.
McDonald plans to dedicate more time to his grandchildren in retirement, a decision driven by his desire to make up for missed moments of their childhood.
He told talkSPORT: “I’m not getting any younger for sure.
“I’ve missed so much of my own children growing up, never mind my grandchildren.
“And what really spurred me on [to retire] was I got a call from my grandson, who plays at the Chelsea Foundation.
“He said, ‘I’m playing at Southampton tomorrow, grandad, can you come and watch?’
“I was like, ‘No, I can’t, I’m up in Leicester.’
“And he said to me that it’s alright because his other grandad could take him, and I felt a bit left out again.”
McDonald is at peace with his choice and is ready to pass the torch.
He said: “I thought to myself, ‘How often in life do you reach a point where you feel it’s time to step aside?’
“I’ve had a great run, and now it’s someone else’s turn to enjoy it.”
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my eight grandchildren and my wonderful wife. That’s what I’ll be doing, and I can’t wait.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
