Mark Webster: Sky Sports Darts pundit diagnosed with rare form of blood cancer

Former world darts champion and Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

Webster, who claimed World Championship glory on the British Darts Organisation (BDO) circuit in 2008, has not worked at a darts event for Sky Sports since February and has this week revealed why during a wide-ranging interview on Darts World's YouTube channel.

Welshman Webster discovered in January that he had a rare form of blood cancer called hairy cell leukaemia and has not worked since he started chemotherapy in February.

"It sounds bad when you say leukaemia, but…it's got a good prognosis, 95 per cent of cases are successful. I will be put into some sort of remission at some point, but just the recovery at the minute is not going to plan in terms of the speed of it," Webster explained.

"My white blood counts are still not recovering, so therefore my immune system is not great at the minute, hence why I can't go back to work.

"It's not the worst case sort of scenario, but it's just a bit frustrating for me.

"I can work with people but just in sensible environments. It's frustrating really. The day-to-day thing is a bit frustrating because I'm used to being busy. Premier League February 5 in Newcastle was the last time I worked, so yeah, (I'm) just managing it.

"I've got to trust the people that have been looking after me. They've been really good. I don't always get the answers I want when I go in, but I've got to trust them.

"I got a bit carried away a few weeks ago thinking I might be able to come and work at Brighton, but my blood counts were too low."

Webster remains hopeful that he can return to work soon, he added: "In myself I feel fine and I would love to go back to work, but they don't like the environment I work in.

"At the minute it's a case of doing as I'm told and being patient. It's frustrating because I like to be busy, but hopefully it won't be too much longer."

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