
How a traditional working-class pub game became a national obsession during the 1970s and 80s, and how television played a key role in elevating its players into household names.
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.
Last on
Clips
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Web exclusive: The curator of darts
Duration: 01:33
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A very British game
Duration: 02:11
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The money match
Duration: 01:38
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From the bar to the book
Duration: 02:03
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
00:08City of Prague Philharmonic / Raine
Into Miami
00:36The Douglas Wood Group
Darts
00:59Chas & Dave
Rabbit
00:59John Barry
We Have All The Time In The World
Meet the narrator

Siobhan Finneranis best known for her regular roles in ITV’s Downton Abbey and Benidorm, and in BBC drama’s Clocking Off and the recently acclaimed Happy Valley. She also starred as Rita in the cult 1986 film Rita, Sue and Bob Too and as Mrs. Swift in the 2013 film The Selfish Giant.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Siobhan Finneran |
| Producer | Matt Thomas |
| Director | Matt Thomas |
| Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
| Participant | Eric Bristow |
| Participant | Bobby George |
| Participant | John Lowe |
| Participant | Phil Taylor |
Broadcasts
- Mon 15 Dec 201421:00
- Tue 16 Dec 201402:15
- Thu 18 Dec 201422:30
- Wed 7 Jan 201502:00
- Sun 31 May 201501:40
- Wed 10 Jun 201521:00
- Fri 30 Oct 201500:00
- Mon 2 Nov 201501:40
- Thu 17 Mar 201622:00
- Thu 24 Mar 201600:30
- Thu 14 Jul 201623:30
- Mon 18 Jul 201602:55
- Mon 13 Mar 201701:40
- Tue 3 Apr 201823:30
- Tue 18 Sep 201800:00
- Fri 22 Feb 201901:05
- Thu 5 Sep 201900:00
- Mon 20 Jul 202023:30
- Sun 31 Mar 202420:00
- Mon 1 Apr 202402:55





