Sky orders darts gameshow from ITV

Pay TV operator Sky has commissioned One Hundred and Eighty, a darts-based gameshow for its flagship entertainment channel Sky 1.

The show will be made by ITV Studios, the content arm of UK commercial broadcaster ITV.

Well-known UK host Davina McCall will front the show alongside former professional cricketer Freddie Flintoff, and the show will launch on Sky in September.

The format sees professional darts players, including 16-time world champion Phil Taylor and world number one Michael Van Gerwen, play to determine the size of a prize fund at the top of the show, before being paired with members of the public who join them to compete for the prize.

Sky said One Hundred and Eighty would combine “the drama of a sporting event with the excitement of a game show”.

Adam MacDonald, director of Sky 1, said: “Darts is a sport close to the nation’s heart. There is something incredibly exciting about reinventing this tradition, with a fresh, modern entertainment twist, all exclusively for Sky 1.”

Lee Connolly, creative director of entertainment for ITV Studios, added: “With Davina McCall as quiz master and Freddie Flintoff providing wit and humour from the commentary box, One Hundred and Eighty will bring all the excitement and energy of top class darts to Sky 1’s audience.”

The show was ordered for Sky by Barbara Lee, Sky commissioning editor. The 8x60mins series will also be available to stream on Sky’s OTT service Sky Now.