Darts walk-on girl ban ‘is destroying women’s careers’

BRITAIN’s first darts walk-on girl reckons banning them from events is destroying women’s careers.

Karen Jean Cookson, now 46, pioneered accompanying players on to the stage at a TV darts tournament.

Now she has hit out at the politically correct culture that has led to a ban.

Karen, from Blackpool, runs a model agency Angels Elite and manages darts walk-on girls Daniella Allfree and Charlotte Wood. And yesterday she told of her anger at the ban imposed by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

She said: “I was one of the first darts walk-on girls when it was trialled in the 1990s at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

“It was to create a more glamorous occasion and the atmosphere was amazing.

“I chose to do it, and today’s girls also choose to do it. But now their livelihoods are being taken away.

“Many have children and it’s their career. Where’s it going to stop? This is political correctness going too far.”

Karen, who with business partner Sue Knight were the first TV darts walk-on girls in 1994, stressed “glamour is part of the entertainment business”.

She added: “Every girl who has done it has absolutely loved it.

“They are not intimidated, they are respected and choose what they want to wear. This is taking a woman’s choice away.” Jade Slusarczyk, 32, a darts walk-on girl for seven years, said: “Some people say having walk-on girls is demeaning but I do not feel degraded at all. I love it.

“I have never been made to feel uncomfortable. There’s never been anything untoward.”

And Daniella Allfree added: “I’ve got to know everyone, it’s like a darts family.”

The PDC said: “We regularly review all aspects of our events. This move has been made following feedback from our host broadcasters.”