Every great night at the darts featured Russ Bray’s gravelly-toned cry of "Onnnnne hundred and eighty" as one of the world’s best players hit a maximum - and he speaks that way on the phone, too.
The South Ockendon-born referee joined the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) as a referee in July 1996, and he’s since become one of the most iconic figures in darts, witnessing the sport’s incredible global growth over the last quarter of a century.
He might have one of the most recognisable voices in the world of darts, but behind his distinctive tones is a fascinating backstory.
Bray's life has not always been on stage, having led a varied life full of new careers. He was a county standard player with Hertfordshire for many years, played for West Ham in the London Super League at The Lamb in Plaistow and played pairs with the late, great Eric Bristow.
Having called for his county in front of lots of people, initially because a caller didn’t turn up, the PDC realised he had a very different voice from everyone else, and the rest, as they say, is history.
For nearly three decades, the 67-year-old starred in some of the sport's iconic moments, including the 2007 World Championship final between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld at the Circus Tavern, and presided over 17 televised nine-darters, including Michael van Gerwen's 17 perfect darts at the 2014 World Championship and Taylor's landmark nine-darter in 2002 - the first televised perfect leg in the PDC.
Now a PDC ambassador, having laid down his microphone after calling ‘Game, Shot and the Match’ to Luke Humphries at London’s Alexandra Palace in January 2024, Bray continues to play a key role in the expansion of the PDC’s global affiliate tours - including the Asian Tour - and shows his dedication to fans around the world.
Ahead of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship at Ally Pally, the iconic referee took time out of his busy schedule to look back on his 27-and-a-half years at the PDC with pride and his support for his beloved Hammers…
Russ, where did it all begin for you as a PDC referee, then?
“I’ve done a little bit of everything throughout my life, such as being a road traffic officer with Essex Police, a driving instructor at the British School of Motoring, a lorry driver and a scaffolder.
“I started playing darts in 1975 during my time with the police, then joined the Metropolitan Police darts team and ended up having a reasonably decent darts career and represented Hertfordshire.
“I became a referee after one of the referees never turned up for a county game, so I turned around and offered to call a couple of games to help out, which is what I'd done, and I really enjoyed it.
“After 12 months, I was asked by the PDC if I would like to be a reserve referee with the two guys that were already established there, and I've never looked back.
“The very first game I called had John Lowe in it, who was the first man ever to hit a nine darter on TV, and the second game I called had Paul Lim in it, who was the first man to hit a nine darter in the World Championships, so it was real high-pressure games for me to do to see if I'll be established in the world of darts. I must’ve done alright!”
So, your vocal prowess is synonymous with the game of darts. How did it develop?
“It’s always about trying to be different, and every referee now calls a one hundred and eighty different. That’s something I’ve always tried to do - be different.
“When we boys reach a certain age, certain things start to change, and I basically went from soprano to bass instead of soprano to alto!”
Was there a particular moment that stands out from your 27-and-a-half years with the PDC?
“There are a couple. I called Taylor v Chris Mason in 2002, which was the first nine-darter live on British TV. Taylor won £100,000 for it, and it was just incredible.
“The other moment has to be the 2007 World Championship between van Barneveld and Taylor, where that went to the sudden death leg. Both hit a 180, before van Barneveld eventually took double top out to become the 2007 World Champion.
“It was quite poignant, really, because it was the very last one at the Circus Tavern and was Barney's first World Championship with the PDC.”
It must have been difficult to step away from the sport and end your full-time career?
“It was incredibly tough, but I actually decided to step down in 2022 at a World Matchplay in Blackpool.
“We’ve got some cracking youngsters coming through, so for me personally, I knew it was time to step away and let them take over as part of the evolution that’s going on at the moment.
“For me to be involved in that final last year between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler was amazing because it had the biggest viewing figures, the biggest hype and the biggest everything involved with darts.
“It's kicked darts on again. We're riding the crest of a wave, and that wave's just got bigger and faster. I can't see it splashing down at the moment.”
You’re now a PDC Ambassador - can you tell us about your new role?
“I'm still involved with the Asian Tour, but I don't do the European side. I call in Bahrain, New York, Australia and New Zealand. I’ve essentially been a face for the PDC, and we are looking to develop darts in countries such as India, South Africa and places such as Kenya. I've even been invited out to Chile!
“It’s a fantastic job I’ve got at the moment with a lot of exciting prospects.”
Tell us about your West Ham allegiance, then?
“I was born in South Ockendon, Essex, and used to take the Green Line bus to Upton Park as a kid. You always support your local team or your nearest team, and West Ham was my nearest team, and they’ve always been my Club.
“I’m from the Bobby Moore era, and he is my real true favourite. He is still one of the greatest centre-backs I've ever seen play football and he epitomised what the game was. He’s definitely one of the greatest players I've ever seen, and he’s one person I’d love to have met.
“One of the first games I went to as a kid is my favourite ever game, when we played Spurs in 1968, and it was 2-2 in a mud bath at Upton Park. My Dad turned around and said to me, ‘You will not see a better game of football in all your life’.”
Back to you, you’ve just released a book in November, so tell us about that!
“It's about darts. That’s the name of the book, and that's basically what it is. It's my involvement in darts and a little bit about myself in that way. It includes things about behind the scenes, chats about the players, and I talk about games and all sorts.
“It's pretty much a light-hearted read and is available almost everywhere!”
