Bullseyes and Beer - 15 Dec BBC4

[ChrisW]

Timeshift tells the story of how a traditional working-class pub game became a national obsession during the 1970s and 80s, and looks at the key role television played in elevating its larger-than-life players into household names.

Siobhan Finneran narrates a documentary which charts the game's surprising history, its cross-class and cross-gender appeal, and the star players that, for two decades, transformed a pub pastime into a sporting spectacle like no other.

Featuring legendary names such as Alan Evans and Jocky Wilson and including contributions from Eric Bristow, Bobby George, John Lowe and Phil Taylor.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0287mq6

[uamniw]

There is also the 1979 documentary "Arrows" made by John Samson about Eric Bristow shown afterwards - should be worth a look. Afterwards they're showing the documentary "The People's Champion" about Alex Higgins.

[ChrisW]

Reminder this is on tonight.

[StevieB]

Have tape set for this tonight

[devosteve]

Alex Higgins would have made a great darts player (if he could play of course).

[daraghj82]

ill definitely watch this

[Bowditch Darts]

Yes I will be watching this also it should be an interesting watch

[Bullysspecialprize]

Programme after arrows looks good as well

[nevil22]

Great to see footage of Jean Smith playing in her customary Red Beret, I used to play with her & her husband Denis in Bristol back in the 80's

[Dannyboy]

Jocky - a sporting legend; but was an absolute mess wasnt he?!

[Dannyboy]

Dick Allix? Eric's manager?

[Stubby]

Lowe's not happy that it turned out to be a Bristow life story rather than the "Evolution of darts" as he thought it was going to be.

[rabsmith2]

Great to see the old footage of the greats. Maureen Flowers at her peak would she be todays ladies number one?Think so.

[Welsh Wayne]

My era .......loved it !!

[Dannyboy]

Lowe's not happy that it turned out to be a Bristow life story rather than the "Evolution of darts" as he thought it was going to be.

He has a point. Didn't really mention the split until the last 5 minutes and arguably the 2000s were bigger for darts than the 1980s. If the programme was 2 hours, it would've been even better.

However, the programme is called "Timeshift". Was supposed to be a specific point in time, i.e. when the sport first broke through in the late 1970s, early 1980s.

Still a cracking programme.

[mc1958]

Great to see the old footage of the greats. Maureen Flowers at her peak would she be todays ladies number one?Think so.

I think Linda Batten was a better player - at her peak I reckon she would be ladies number 1 now

[mc1958]

Dick Allix? Eric's manager?

He managed a few of the others around that time as well including Maureen Flowers, Tony Brown and Steve Brennan

[ChrisW]

Was a great programme. Gonna watch it again asap.

[rabsmith2]

My era .......loved it !!

The era when darts were darts and full of characters,big money changing hands behind closed doors,something's don't change

[rabsmith2]

Great to see the old footage of the greats. Maureen Flowers at her peak would she be todays ladies number one?Think so.

I think Linda Batten was a better player - at her peak I reckon she would be ladies number 1 now

With Linda we got to watch a lot more of her games,unfortunately very little footage of Maureen. Can remember watching Linda on bullseye and she cruised it,likewise so did Maureen.