Further good news for snooker fans as iconic 1990s TV Show to return with Paddy McGuinness as host
The BBC snooker game show ran from 1991 to 2002 and was hosted by the late great John Virgo
An iconic snooker programme from the 1990s is returning to our screens for the first time in 24 years.
Big Break, which aired on BBC One for 11 years between 1991 and 2002, enjoyed great success with Jim Davidson and the late great John Virgo as hosts.
The programme focuses on teams consisting of a contestant and a professional snooker player competing in rounds that involve snooker, with the best team eventually winning a prize.
During its heyday in the 1990s, it featured talents like Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor and Ronnie O’Sullivan among others.
And now it’s set to feature a whole new generation of talented stars. The new version of Big Break will be co-presented by Paddy McGuinness and snooker legend Stephen Hendry.
McGuinness, who has also hosted Question of Sport and Take Me Out in the past, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be a part of Big Break.
"It is one of those shows everyone knows and loves so to be hosting it alongside legend Stephen Hendry will be something special. Bring it on!"
Hendry, a seven-time world champion, added: "Big Break was a unique mix of trick shots and great entertainment and I can't wait to be back at the table and bringing this incredible show to a whole new audience and who knows, we might inspire the next generation of snooker players to get into the sport."
The iconic snooker programme returns on BBC Two and iPlayer has been commissioned for 20 episodes which are all set to last 30 minutes. The show promises to stay true to the spirit of the original programme, offering viewers a great trip down memory lane.
Big Break’s return marks more good news for snooker fans in what has already been an incredible year for the sport, following news which saw Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre extend its stay as the ‘Home of Snooker’ for a further 20 years.
As part of the plans, Snooker’s Crucible Theatre will receive an estimated £45m worth of investment, with the venue getting a capacity increase of 500 seats.
The Snooker World Championships generate huge revenue for the city of Sheffield both in terms of tourism and hospitality.
The recent World Championships pulled in 120million viewing hours on TV as well, with China’s Wu Yize becoming the second ever player from Asia to become world champion.