‘I’m used to him slagging me off’ – Adrian Lewis jokes he nearly put off darts return after discovering Phil Taylor role
FAN favourite darts icon Adrian Lewis has joked that he almost put off his highly-anticipated return to the oche after finding out Phil Taylor could be involved in the punditry.
Lewis, 40, recently announced he would be coming back to darts after an “indefinite break” due to personal reasons.
The two-time world champion lost his PDC Tour Card last year due to inactivity following his decision to sit out the PDPA World Championship qualifiers.
Jackpot, who has been caring for his ill wife since his career break, is now eyeing a return at the Modus Super Series in May.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “Jason [Thame] asked me going back last year I think it was and I wasn’t quite ready.
“Now I’m getting there, hopefully setting a date. I think it’s around May time, so looking forward to it.
“I’m enjoying throwing again in patches, only when I’m playing well.
“I think they only want me on there for a bit of friction. Hopefully I’ll ruffle a few feathers and have a laugh.
“I think I might wear one of those Peter Wright wigs when I’m playing.”
But Lewis joked that he almost considered taking a few more years off after learning old friend and opponent Phil Taylor will be doing the punditry on the Modus Super Series.
List of all-time Darts World Champions
BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year.
The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions.
That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once – Barney also won four BDO titles – and none of Eric Bristow’s five BDO titles are included.
- 1994 – Dennis Priestley
- 1995 – Phil Taylor
- 1996 – Phil Taylor (2)
- 1997 – Phil Taylor (3)
- 1998 – Phil Taylor (4)
- 1999 – Phil Taylor (5)
- 2000 – Phil Taylor (6)
- 2001 – Phil Taylor (7)
- 2002 – Phil Taylor (8)
- 2003 – John Part
- 2004 – Phil Taylor (9)
- 2005 – Phil Taylor (10)
- 2006 – Phil Taylor (11)
- 2007 – Raymond van Barneveld
- 2008 – John Part (2)
- 2009 – Phil Taylor (12)
- 2010 – Phil Taylor (13)
- 2011 – Adrian Lewis
- 2012 – Adrian Lewis (2)
- 2013 – Phil Taylor (14)
- 2014 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2015 – Gary Anderson
- 2016 – Gary Anderson (2)
- 2017 – Michael van Gerwen (2)
- 2018 – Rob Cross
- 2019 – Michael van Gerwen (3)
- 2020 – Peter Wright
- 2021 – Gerwyn Price
- 2022 – Peter Wright (2)
- 2023 – Michael Smith
- 2024 – Luke Humphries
- 2025 – Luke Littler
Most World Titles
- 14 – Phil Taylor
- 3 – Michael van Gerwen
- 2 – John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright
- 1 – Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
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He added: “When I heard he was doing the punditry, I thought put me off for a couple more years until he retires fully.
“I’m used to him slagging me off anyway when I’m playing darts so you know nothing will change there.”
The Power previously acted as a mentor to Lewis when he was breaking on to the scene.
And the pair went on to have a number of memorable face-offs over the years, including Grand Slam, World Matchplay and Masters finals.
While they also played alongside each other in the PDC World Cup of Darts, winning for England in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016.