European nations to keep darts walk-on girls as UK bows to pressure from ‘PC brigade’

BRITAIN was dubbed a soft touch today as other European nations refused to abandon their darts walk-on girls.

Germany, Holland, Belgium and Austria vowed to keep them after killjoys got them banned in the UK.

It also emerged today that world darts bosses have axed the parade for only British and Irish audiences.

Bas Smits, from the Dutch Darts Association, said: “We plan to keep our walk-on girls. No one is saying it’s sexist.”

Dutch fan Huay Heesderbeek, 23, from Amsterdam, added: “England is going soft. They’ve taken all the fun away.”

The Professional Darts Corporation has confirmed walk-on girls will be kept in other countries.

Dave Nelson/N&S SYNDICATION

Charlotte Wood, 29, and Daniella Allfree, 30, will no longer be able be able to walk out at darts events[/caption]

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The pair with Gary Anderson in 2016 [/caption]

Its boss Barry Hearn, 69, blamed TV chiefs as a petition to stop them being axed attracted more than 33,000 signatures.

He said he had given in to pressure from ITV chief Niall Sloane, who spent 26 years at the BBC, and   Barney Francis of Sky Sports.

Mr Hearn added: “Walk-on girls have been around forever and I’ve no problems with them whatsoever.

“We’re living in changing times. The PC brigade are out in strength and it’s causing changes in sport everywhere we look — and it’s probably going to get worse.”

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The Professional Darts Corporation boss Barry Hearn, 69, blames the ‘PC brigade’ for the loss of the girls[/caption]

The first major event without walk-on girls is in Dublin on Thursday — but Belgian fans can see them in Ostend this weekend.

Neighbouring Holland has produced a string of great players, including former world champ Michael van Gerwen.

Fan Huay added: “We want to see the girls with them. It is like having a football match and not seeing the teams line up.”

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Anthea Turner says women should be able to ‘make a living out of their assets’[/caption]

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Kelly Brook said banning the girls was ‘not right’[/caption]

TV presenter Anthea Turner today also backed axed walk-on girls Charlotte Wood, 29, and Daniella Allfree, 30, when they appeared on ITV1’s This Morning.

Journalist Sally Howard told them their roles were demeaning. But Anthea, 57, tweeted: “Funny isn’t it why unattractive women like the badly dressed lady on the sofa want to ban attractive women from making a living out of their assets?”

Model  Kelly Brook, 38, also told them: “I’m sorry you lost your job, it’s not right.”

Charlotte said: “It meant everything getting that message from Kelly — she is my role model.”

Sky Sports declined to comment. ITV failed to respond to requests for comment.