From Nun Costumes to Darts Stardom: Emma Paton's Inspiring Journey to the £1M World Championship

EMMA PATON will make more television appearances this Christmas than the King, Wallace & Gromit, and the stars of Strictly Come Dancing.

As the face of Sky Sports Darts, Paton will be in the spotlight for over 20 evenings of thrilling action as the sport’s first £1 MILLION champion is crowned on Super Saturday next month.

Emma Paton will appear on TV over Christmas more than anyone elseCredit: Shutterstock The presenter worked her way up at Sky SportsCredit: Instagram @missemmapaton She first attended the darts at Alexandra Palace dressed as a nunCredit: Getty

However, her initial visit to Ally Pally was not with a microphone but while holding a drink, dressed as a nun.

Paton chuckled as she shared, “Oh, I’ve attended the darts before as a fan, yes.

“As a nun. Well, I was part of a group of nuns. It was years ago.

“I was with my best friend, who still goes every year. She always asks me for tickets.”

Little did she realize, while dressed as Mother Teresa, that a decade later, she would become the leading figure in the sport.

During her days as a spectator, she was a junior member of the website team.

Paton joined the media giant in December 2012, shortly after completing her Master’s in sports journalism.

At the London 2012 Olympics, she had her own seat for Super Saturday — the memorable night when British athletes won three gold medals in just 45 minutes — thanks to her “incredible internship” at Team GB’s media desk.

She also had a “front-row seat” as the Jamaican legend claimed the 100 and 200 meters sprint double in East London.

Track and field was her first passion, and Paton was a promising 400m runner — a contemporary of former European indoor champion Perri Shakes-Drayton — but her athletic dreams were cut short by a ruptured ankle ligament.

Athletics’ loss became sports journalism’s gain, and Paton has climbed the ranks through writing and production roles, presenting Transfer Deadline Day and covering the US Open tennis.

She has put in the hard work, with numerous 3am starts, and deserves her success as the face of darts, following in the footsteps of Dave Clark and Laura Woods.

Ultra-professional and diligent, Paton prepares thoroughly and studies the form book while managing a director in her ear.

There is no autocue or script; everything is prepared in the four to five hours prior to live transmission.

In the future, when TV historians replay the moments of January 3, as the winner of the Sid Waddell Trophy receives a £1m cheque, Paton will be guiding the proceedings.

She remarked, “I feel nervous anyway during finals. I might be even more anxious this time around.

“There may be a slightly different atmosphere in the room, adding what I don't want to call pressure, but perhaps a greater significance this time around.

“Whoever is in that final will ultimately be focused on winning the world title.