Darts legend Bobby George is recovering after undergoing surgery to fix a heart valve. The 80-year-old revealed how he almost missed the doctor’s appointment that spotted the problem, which could have potentially ended his life within 18 months.
A lucky escape from a missed appointment
George, known as the ‘Bobby Dazzler’, has remained a household name for decades, having officially called time on his professional darts career in 2009. He twice reached the BDO World Championship final at Lakeside but lost to Eric Bristow and John Part in 1980 and 1994, respectively.
George has subsequently thrived as a pundit, having begun working for the BBC in 1998. Still one of the sport’s biggest personalities, the icon’s smiling nature and enthusiasm for the game have ensured his enduring popularity.
However, George recently faced a health scare after being alerted to a problem with his heart. The 80-year-old is currently resting up after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), rather than open-heart surgery, following an hour-long procedure which saw the implant inserted through his groin.
Missed letter and a stroke of luck
It transpired that George should have had his heart examined a decade ago and the doctor arranged for him to see a specialist. However, a letter with the details never arrived and it was only a stroke of luck that meant George made it to his appointment.
“Then my daughter, who lives with my ex-wife in Redbridge, rang to say she’s got a letter from the National Health Service for dad,” he explained. “It was an appointment, a time and date, with this specialist. They sent that f****** thing to my address from 40-odd years ago. If I’d got a letter from the NHS not for me, I’d just f-ing bin it. And 99 per cent of people would, too. It’s like a Del Boy story really. Because if my daughter hadn’t lived at that address still, I’d be on my way to being dead.”
“Talk about being lucky. Without that, I’d be down the f****** swanee. One doctor said if I didn’t have this valve fixed, I’ll be dead in 18 months.”
Recovery and praise for Littler
Following the procedure, George is recuperating at his self-built, 18-bedroom mansion George Hall. He has been watching darts during his recovery and admits he was initially wrong about two-time world champion Luke Littler. The 19-year-old has clinched five major titles in 2026 and recently triumphed for England at the World Cup of Darts, alongside Luke Humphries.
“I said he could be a fluke. ‘Luke could be a fluke.’ But he keeps winning, and he ain’t no fluke,” George said of Littler’s success. “He’s unbelievable, isn’t he? He just wins everything. Just amazing. People have had chances to beat him, actually beat him. But when he’s on top, they ain’t got a chance, have they?”
