Taylor Makes Corrie Debut

PHIL TAYLOR will make a guest appearance on British soap Coronation Street on Monday.

Taylor has starred throughout last weekend on ITV in the coral.co.uk Players Championship, but will trade the Circus Tavern stage for the Rovers Return this week.

He will appear as part of a darts team from The Flying Horse who take on a Rovers Return side, playing the part of a character called "Disco Dave".

Taylor played against Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster, in the PartyPoker.com Pro-Celebrity Challenge last November, and was cheered on to World Championship glory by actress Kim Marsh five years ago.

"The Coronation Street stars are big darts fans, people like Michael and Andy Whyment (Kirk)," said Taylor. "To go and be a part of it was fantastic.

"It took two days and about seven or eight hours of filming - it was great.

"I never normally watch myself on TV but I definitely will this time!

"Me, my wife and my mum, in fact my whole family are huge Corrie fans and I've always fancied a game of darts in the Rovers - particularly against Kevin Webster.

"Michael took me on, on my stage and now I can take him on, on his."

Taylor added yet more silverware to his trophy cabinet on Sunday night when he overcame Robert Thornton 16-9 to take victory in the first Players Championship.

He had dropped only eight legs in four games to reach the final, defeating Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort with 108 averages, whitewashing Colin Lloyd and powering past Ronnie Baxter in the semis before claiming the £50,000 title.

"It started off playing really well and Vincent van der Voort was probably the hardest game I've played for a long time, he was brilliant," said Taylor.

"I like Robert. He's a gutsy little player, he's dedicated and I think he'll do well over the next few years."

He added: "I seemed to perform when I had to do in the last three games and I'm a bit disappointed in that.

"I'm happy to win but I could have won a lot more comfortably."

Taylor's win continued his recent trend of being the first champion in a 'new' tournament, following successes in the Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, European Championship, UK Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic and US Open since 2002.

"I love the trophies," he admitted. "It's the first one and my name's on it now, and all the people who come along in the next 30 years will see Phil Taylor was the first one on it.

"Every time there's a new trophy it's my aim to be the first winner. I love winning and love the competition."

Watch Phil Taylor in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Echo Arena Liverpool on Thursday - call 0844 8000 400 for tickets