BRAY REVEALS SMOKING ENHANCED HIS ICONIC VOICE

RUSS BRAY believes smoking from the age of TEN played a role in shaping his iconic darts voice.

‘The Voice of Darts’ worked as an official in the sport for nearly three decades, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in the game.

The raspy-voiced referee called 28 PDC World Championship finals and was inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame in 2024.

Bray’s trademark gravelly cry of “Ooooonnne hundred and eight-y!” made him famous around the world and synonymous with the biggest moments on the oche.

Now 68, Bray has opened up on how smoking from a young age may have influenced the voice that defined his career.

Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “It would have done, I guess, because I started smoking when I was 10.

“Don’t smoke, kids. Please don’t do it. It was a different world back then.”

Bray explained how smoking was commonplace during his childhood, both on television and at home.

He added: “Imagine in those days — I think Thunderbirds came out in 1967. You know, the puppet thing?

“Nearly every scene had Jeff Tracy with a cigarette in his hand, or Lady Penelope with a cigarette, because that’s just how it was.

“You had cigarette adverts and all sorts. My mum and dad smoked as well.

“Don’t get me wrong, I got a good hiding when I got caught the first time.

“I started smoking when I was 10.”

Bray also reckons puberty was the key stage when his voice naturally began to deepen.

He continued: “When I got to 13 and you start having changes in your body, with things that drop in us and don’t in women, my voice went low.

“Over the years of smoking and calling, I guess it has changed.

“Not that I’ve been aware of it or deliberately changed it.”

Bray called time on his legendary career after the 2024 Worlds final, which saw Luke Humphries defeat Luke Littler, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career.

Image by Taylor Lanning.