Celebrities, quick maths and 180s - life as a darts referee

Rubbing shoulders with Ed Sheeran, Sir Stephen Fry and Luke Littler would not be an average day at work for most.

But for darts referee and official Owen Binks, from Colchester, seeing the country's most famous faces is just another day at the office.

The 27-year-old travels the world overseeing some of the sport's biggest occasions - most recently keeping score on stage at the PDC World Darts Championship.

It is a far cry from four years ago, when he was barely holding down the 21st job he had worked in since leaving university.

Mr Binks said it was a phone call from tournament organiser MODUS Super Series that changed everything.

"They asked me 'can you leave your job and be a full-time referee for us?' and I was like 'yes, absolutely' - so I quit my job on the spot," he explained.

"I knew that's what I wanted to do and I've been living my dream ever since.

"I've got a lot to thank them for because that call changed my life."

Mr Binks said he found office-based jobs were incompatible with his ADHD, but the "hyper-focused" environment of darts was the perfect remedy.

Aside from refereeing, he also marked the scores and acted as a spotter, which involved telling TV directors where to focus their cameras.

He did this by predicting which shot the darts player would throw next via the use of quick maths and watching their eyes.

"I've always been good at mental maths, but you need darts maths to be an expert in this field," said Mr Binks, who went to Philip Morant school in Colchester.

"A lot of it is knowing the patterns, although you have to be on your toes for someone like Luke Littler who sprays around the board."

Mr Binks said his ADHD was to thank for the quick mental arithmetic. Without the condition, he felt he would not have a job.

He continued: "When I was growing up I was always in trouble at school, being the class clown and getting sent out.

"It really helps when you have a hyper-focus on the thing you love. For me that's darts numbers - how random is that?

"Maybe it does help becoming obsessed with that and knowing my game to the best I can."

Mr Binks could be seen regularly throughout the Darts World Championship, won by the teenage sensation Littler on 3 January.

He rubbed shoulders with the sport's most elite players, but footballers, actors and pop stars were also among the people he spotted in the crowd.

The Colchester United supporter even went viral on X when he told Ed Sheeran exactly what he thought of local rivals Ipswich Town while taking a selfie.

For Mr Binks though, the most excitement came from soaking up the electric Alexandra Palace atmosphere in north London.

"It's such a privilege to be up on stage as there's no better crowds than the crowds at Ally Pally," he added.

"The best thing is I get the best seat in the house to watch the best players in the world do the most amazing things."

It was almost futile to ask Mr Binks whether he considered darts to be a sport or a glorified pub game.

"It's definitely a sport," he bit back. "It's the greatest sport on earth."

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