Jimmy hit by love’s arrow
Snooker legend, 56, falls for darts walk-on girl, 32
Jimmy & Jade cancer and drug addiction, was previously married to Maureen Mockler, and they have five children: Lauren, 37, Ashleigh, 31, Georgia, 29, Breeze, 28, and Tommy, 20.
The South Londoner is nicknamed The Whirlwind because of his fastpaced play and the People’s Champion because of his popularity with fans.
He famously never won the World Championship despite reaching the final six times, where he was the first left-hander and the second player overall to record a maximum 147 break.
Jimmy won more than 20 other tournaments, including the UK Championship, the Masters, the Nations Cup, the World Cup and British Open, and was the youngest world amateur champion when he was 18.
The star has confessed he was lucky to be alive after blowing €10,000 a month on crack cocaine at the height of his With Eric Bristow fame in the 1980s. He once said: “Over the years I have been in a lot of trouble but I’ve always managed to switch off and play.
“To be honest, most of my troubles – bankruptcy, drinking, gambling – were self-inflicted.”
In February Jade appeared on the Jeremy Vine show to defend the tradition of darts walk-on girls – slammed by some commentators as sexist and old-fashioned.
“I’ve done events, exhibitions and appearances all over England, Europe and in America,” she said. “I love it, I’ve been able to travel and see different places.
“I don’t wear skimpy outfits, I wear classy, knee-length dresses. I’ve never been made to feel uncomfortable or do anything I didn’t want to, there’s never been anything untoward.
“There are people at the events looking out for your safety, and I’ve always really enjoyed it. It is the girls’ choice to do it. And it’s harmless. This all seems like madness to me.”
halina.watts@sundaymirror.co.uk
Some say a walk-on girl’s job is degrading but it’s not JADE SLUSARCZYK ON ROLE AT DARTS EVENTS