Stars Flock To SkyBet World Grand Prix

SOME of the UK's top actors were been among the huge crowds assembled at the Citywest Hotel for the SkyBet World Grand Prix last week.

Former footballer turned Hollywood favourite Vinnie Jones was staying at the hotel during filming for his new movie - "Bog Bodies" - nearby.

DartsTV Subscribers can listen to an exclusive interview with Vinnie Jones here

Co-star Adam Fogerty, a former boxer and rugby league star, joined Jones in the audience for the crunch second round clash between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

Jones also invited Chris Mason onto the Bog Bodies set during the week.

Another celebrity face in the audience was Ralph Ineson, who starred in SkyBet's commercials during the World Grand Prix.

The star of "The Office" attended the quarter-finals - and admitted meeting Sky Sports commentator Sid Waddell and referee Russ Bray was the highlight of his night!

Jones revealed that his love of darts goes back into the early 1980's, when he bumped into Keith deller in a petrol station.

"My first encounter of darts was years ago," said Jones, in an exclusive interview with DLI Radio Sport's John Hyde.

"I was putting petrol in my car and I looked across and saw this geezer with "Keith Deller - World Darts Champion" on his car.

"I thought 'Dart player? With a sponsored car?', and that was the first darts player I met.

"Over the years I've met the boys, and I love it. I've had a 180. I play in a darts team back in Reading and I have got a 180 trophy on my cabinet next to the FA Cup winner's medal!"

Jones scoffs at those who say darts should not be recognised as a sport, adding: "It's a gift. Anything that you can do to create entertainment, that's what it's all about.

"Football's a sport but mainly it's entertainment, and when people say to me about them earning £100,000 a week, I say to look at Rod Stewart. He goes to Vegas, does two or three nights and earns £15 million for it.

"They are gifted people and these lads throwing the 'arrers' are gifted people and you can't take that away from them."

Jones became famous for his "old school" attitude during a successful footballing career - which continues in his love of darts.

"Darts is Eric Bristow and Bob Anderson and those boys," he said. "It was the same with me and football, you need these characters and I hope there are some coming through now.

"When we were playing football, you'd have steak and chips for the pre-match meal, you'd go in the bar after and get hammered and then all of a sudden they are drinking water and eating pasta.

"I hope darts doesn't go like that because you need the characters - heaven forbid we find out one of the players is a fitness fanatic!"