Darts legend Bobby George is on the mend after undergoing a procedure to repair a heart valve, but has been warned to take it easy – including in the bedroom. The 80-year-old, who reached two BDO World Championship finals in his playing days, is recuperating after having a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), rather than open-heart surgery, following an hour-long procedure that saw the implant inserted through his groin.
Near-miss with doctor's appointment
George admitted he nearly missed the doctor's appointment that identified the issue, which could have potentially claimed his life within 18 months. During a doctor's appointment, it emerged that George should have undergone a cardiac examination a decade earlier, and the doctor organised for him to meet with a specialist. However, the details of the appointment never reached him, and it was purely by chance that he managed to attend the consultation.
"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."
Strict recovery instructions
The popular pundit has been given strict instructions not to vacuum, mow the lawn – or have strenuous sex during his recovery. "I told them, 'What are you f****** telling me that?' I don't have no f****** sex now," George told The Sun. "Anyways, it was supposed to be open heart surgery, not open legs surgery…"
"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."
Wit and recovery
During one conversation with a doctor, George displayed his typical wit when discussing his health: "I was chatting to my doctors and said I want to live to f****** 90. And when I'm 90, I want to live to 100. Maybe 180 is too much. I already look like a f****** dried-up doughnut now – one with no jam in it."
George has been recovering at his self-built, 18-bedroom estate George Hall and has spent time watching darts. However, he admitted to being initially mistaken about Luke Little's ability. The two-time world champion has secured five major titles in 2026 and recently prevailed for England at the World Cup of Darts with teammate 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?"
