Emma Paton’s Darts Ability Questioned by Nathan Aspinall: “She’ll Probably Kill Me, But She’s Not That Good”

August 3, 2026 5 Min Read

UK News Now: A report on the latest Emma Paton breaking news: What’s in the news is that Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton may have recently conquered Hyde Park alongside World Champion Luke Humphries, but two-time major winner Nathan Aspinall is warning her not to quit her day job anytime soon.

In a lighthearted exchange following the PDC’s recent Pro-Am exhibition tournament in London, world number two Aspinall offered a candid—and hilariously direct—assessment of Paton’s darting capabilities. While acknowledging her undeniable charisma on stage, ‘The Asp’ jokingly suggested that the popular broadcaster should “stick to commentating” rather than pursuing a career on the oche.

Hyde Park Glory: Paton and Humphries Claim the Title

The debate over Paton’s throwing arm stems from the Hyde Park Championships, a high-profile PDC Pro-Am event where celebrities, presenters, and elite professionals teamed up to battle for exhibition bragging rights in front of a packed London crowd.

Partnering with reigning world number two Luke Humphries, Paton put on a spirited display throughout the tournament. The duo marched all the way to the final, capping off a remarkable run with a dramatic victory over a field containing some of the biggest names in world darts.

                  [ HYDE PARK PRO-AM CHAMPIONSHIPS ]
 
       +------------------------------------------------------+
       | WINNERS: Luke Humphries & Emma Paton                 |
       +------------------------------------------------------+
       | • Winning Moment: Paton expert double 'Tops' (D20)   |
       | • Final Takeout: Humphries 57 checkout for victory   |
       | • Defeated: Nathan Aspinall & Pro-Am Partners        |
       +------------------------------------------------------+

The highlight of the event for Paton came in the deciding legs, where she produced a moment of genuine brilliance under pressure. Facing off against Aspinall, the 31-year-old Sky Sports host expertly pinned Double 20 (“Tops”) to claim a leg, paving the way for Humphries to clean up a 57 checkout and seal the championship title.

The crowd in Hyde Park erupted, celebrating one of the most memorable exhibition moments of the summer circuit. However, Aspinall wasn’t completely sold on her long-term prospects as a professional player.

“She’s Not That Good”: Aspinall’s Playful Reality Check

Speaking to 247Bet after the event, Aspinall couldn’t resist throwing a few playful jabs at the newly crowned Hyde Park champion.

“I don’t mind if Emma beats me,” Aspinall admitted with a grin. “She’s one of the few people that I don’t mind losing a leg to. She’ll probably kill me if she reads this, but no, she’s not that good.”

While Paton’s clutch double on Tops sent the London fans into a frenzy, Aspinall quickly ruled out any chance of the television host making a surprise appearance on the PDC Women’s Series or challenging top-tier female professionals like Beau Greaves or Fallon Sherrock.

“She’d be no match for some of the ladies who are pros in the game, so she needs to stick to commentating because she’s the best at that,” Aspinall added.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   NATHAN ASPINALL ON EMMA PATON                        │
├───────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 🎯 The Darts                      │ 🎙️ The Presenting                  │
│ • "She'll probably kill me..."    │ • "She's the best at that."         │
│ • "No match for female pros."     │ • "Got a lot of time for Emma."    │
│ • "Not that good."                │ • "Amazing at what she does."      │
└───────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────┘

A Fan Favourite: Why the Hyde Park Crowd Erupted

Despite the tongue-in-cheek critique of her technique, Aspinall was full of praise for Paton’s personality, professionalism, and the electric atmosphere she brought to the London stage.

Since joining the Sky Sports broadcasting team as a lead presenter in 2022, Paton has become one of the most recognizable and revered faces in global darts coverage. Her seamless anchor work during the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, the Premier League, and the World Matchplay has earned her immense respect from both players and supporters alike.

Aspinall acknowledged that Paton’s strong connection with the audience was fully evident throughout the tournament in Hyde Park.

“Honestly, I’ve got a lot of time for Emma, we get on dead well, and she’s amazing at what she does,” Aspinall stated. “She had a bit of good fortune at Hyde Park and hit tops to take a leg off us. Fair play to her. It was an amazing moment for her.”

He admitted to being pleasantly bewildered by the sheer volume of support Paton received whenever she stepped up to the oche:

“The fans loved it. I don’t know why they got behind Emma so much. I don’t know what it was, but the Hyde Park crowd absolutely loved her and it was so much fun to share the stage with her.”

From Track and Field to the Anchor Desk: The Rise of Emma Paton

Paton’s journey to becoming the undisputed “Queen of Ally Pally” coverage is an inspiring story of sports journalism success.

Before gracing screens across Britain and Europe on Sky Sports Darts, Paton was a former national-level track athlete, competing in the triple jump before transitioning into sports broadcasting. Her deep passion for live broadcasting, combined with an authentic rapport with top professionals like Humphries, Aspinall, Michael van Gerwen, and Luke Littler, has transformed darts coverage over the past four years.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        EMMA PATON: CAREER PROFILE                      │
├───────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 🏃 Athletic Background            │ 📺 Media Career                     │
│ • Former national triple jumper   │ • Joined Sky Sports Darts (2022)   │
│ • Sports Journalism Graduate      │ • Lead anchor for Ally Pally       │
│ • Multi-sport broadcasting host   │ • Pro-Am Hyde Park Champion (2026) │
└───────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────┘

While her future remains firmly anchored behind the presenter’s desk rather than inside the PDC Tour Card school, her Hyde Park triumph proved that she can hold her nerve when the spotlight shifts from the microphone to the dartboard.

What’s Next on the PDC Calendar?

While Paton returns to anchor duties and Aspinall prepares for the gruelling autumn schedule on the PDC circuit, the professional darts calendar continues at a breakneck pace in August 2026.

Upcoming highlights across the international circuit include:

New Zealand Darts Masters 2026: The World Series of Darts heads down under as the world’s top stars prepare for the Oceanic road trip.
Zwaantje Masters 2026: A stacked field featuring Danny Noppert, Kim Huybrechts, and veteran star Terry Jenkins takes centre stage.
PDC Development Tour: Emerging youth talents continue their push for Tour Cards, with German sensation Lenny Schlueter recently claiming title silverware in Coventry.

Whether Paton decides to dust off her darts for another exhibition run remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain—if she ever takes a leg off Nathan Aspinall again, ‘The Asp’ might never hear the end of it!