TheOche.com

BDO press statement:

BBC sports presenter Ray Stubbs, presenter of both the BDO World Professional Darts Championships and the Winmau World Masters for several years, is to leave the corporation to be the frontman for ESPN’s live Premier League coverage.

Ray presented football, snooker, darts and other sports in his successful 25 years with BBC TV.

“This was always going to be a difficult decision,” he said. “But a chance to join one of the world’s top broadcasters on day one of a new channel was too good an opportunity to miss.”

Head of BBC TV Sport Philip Bernie said: “Ray has been a fantastic member of the BBC Sport team for many years and we wish him all the best for the future.”

ESPN acquired the live rights for 46 Premier League matches next season following the collapse of Irish broadcaster Setanta.

Ray’s first match fronting ESPN’s coverage of soccer will be Everton v Arsenal at Goodison Park on 15 August.

Everyone at the BDO sends their best wishes to an enthusiastic front man whose passion for darts was second to none. His style fitted perfectly with that of Bobby George, with whom he presented Lakeside coverage from 1999 to 2009, and the World Masters since 2002.

“Ray has been a marvellous ambassador for BDO darts over many years”, says Olly Croft, “and although we will miss him at Lakeside and Bridlington, we wish him every success with all he does at ESPN”.