**Darts Legend Bobby George Preserves Amputated Toe in Vodka at Home Bar**
In a revelation that has surprised even his long-time fans, former darts star Bobby George has admitted that he keeps one of his amputated toes preserved in a bottle of vodka, proudly displayed in his home bar. The anecdote is one of many detailed in his new autobiography, offering a glimpse into the eccentric lifestyle of one of darts’ most colourful personalities.
Bobby George, often dubbed the ‘King of Bling’ for his flamboyant style and signature gold jewellery, dominated the darts scene throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His showmanship made him a fan favourite, while his performances brought him fame, fortune, and the opportunity to build a sprawling 18-bedroom mansion known as George Hall.
Throughout his career, George collected a myriad of darts memorabilia, but few trophies are as unusual as his preserved toe, removed due to a hereditary medical condition in 1999. He explains that, while three of his toes were disposed of by doctors, hospital staff allowed him to keep one as a unique keepsake. This rather morbid memento now occupies a bottle of vodka at his home’s personal bar, drawing both curiosity and disbelief from visitors.
In excerpts from ‘Still Here! The King of Bling’, George candidly describes the circumstances that led to his unusual souvenir. The condition, which caused his toes to painfully dislocate and cross over one another, left him struggling to even put on his shoes. “It got so bad that I couldn’t get my shoes on. I couldn’t walk without checking my balance each step. It was so painful on some days that if I’d had a sharp enough knife, I would have chopped them off myself,” George recounts in his autobiography.
With limited options available from medical professionals, the decision was made to surgically remove four of George’s toes. Asked about his unconventional request to keep one toe, George explains the medical team obliged, handing it to him in a small jar. As formaldehyde was deemed unsuitable due to its toxic nature, he was directed to use vodka as an alternative preservative, a solution that has given his toe a lasting – and somewhat quirky – home.
Displaying a sense of humour typical of the darts legend, George says, “Whenever anyone comes to the house for a drink, I whip it out and ask them if they want a cocktail or a cocktoe?” He further jokes that his wife, Marie, might keep the toe for company when he is away: “If I’ve been away from home and my wife, Marie, is missing me, she can always suck my toe!”
Beyond his unusual keepsake, George remains a significant figure in the darts world. At 79, he is regularly seen at World Seniors events, lending his expert insights as a pundit, and previously contributed as a BBC commentator during the BDO World Championship.
Despite the bizarre nature of his story, George’s toe in a vodka bottle is a fitting symbol of his unique career and the legacy of eccentricity he’s built over decades. While many sports stars boast trophy cabinets filled with medals and cups, Bobby George has taken memorabilia to a whole new level, with a story that continues to amuse and astonish both the darts community and the public at large.
His autobiography, ‘Still Here! The King of Bling’, continues to shed light on the highs, lows, and extraordinary quirks that have defined George’s journey both inside and outside the world of darts. As he reminds his fans: sometimes truth can be even stranger – and more entertaining – than fiction.