The BBC has confirmed a revival of snooker present Massive Break, with Stephen Hendry and Paddy McGuinness set to host the brand new model of the programme.
Jim Davidson and John Virgo have been iconic on Massive Break. (Picture: BBC)
Snooker legend John Virgo had been wanting to resurrect TV present Massive Break earlier than his tragic dying in February. He first floated the concept again in 2022, and the BBC has now confirmed a revival of the beloved programme, some 24 years after its last episode was broadcast.
Virgo co-hosted the unique sequence alongside comic Jim Davidson. The successful components of pairing a snooker star with an entertainer might be retained for the reboot, with seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry teaming up with former Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness.
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“Audiences will expertise the brand-new feel and appear to Massive Break, as Stephen exhibits off some unimaginable new trick photographs, the present could have an addictive mixture of fast-paced snooker frames with a relaxed, comedic ambiance,” BBC Daytime mentioned in a press release confirming the return of the programme.
“Seeing the present from each angle, dwelling audiences will now be placed on the desk, behind the ball and into body, getting up shut and private with the professionals, tapping into the deep nicely of snooker fandom which already exists on-line and on the BBC.”
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Massive Break initially aired on BBC One, with contestants partnered alongside snooker greats together with Ronnie O’Sullivan, Steve Davis and Hendry himself. The revamped sequence will shift to BBC Two and can moreover be obtainable to stream on iPlayer.
Again in 2022, Virgo instructed Massive Break may as soon as once more discover success on mainstream tv. Nonetheless, he additionally acknowledged that fellow host Davidson’s historical past of constructing insensitive jokes may show a stumbling block to a straight revival of the present.
“Jim is a comic book genius. But he cannot seem on tv as a result of he has a black mark in opposition to his title,” the previous UK Championship winner mentioned on the time. “It is comprehensible. I simply really feel it is a waste of a expertise.”
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Commentator, John Virgo seems to be on throughout Day Fourteen of the Cazoo World Snooker Championship 2023 at Crucible Theatre on April 28, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Picture by George Wooden/Getty Photographs) (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Virgo described the unique run of the programme as “Life-changing,” after robust viewing figures reworked his monetary fortunes. “We changed Query of Sport of their slot and the viewing figures have been higher than they’d from the primary day,” he added.
“We have been up in opposition to Blind Date and we have been getting as many viewers. It was unimaginable.”
As with the unique sequence, a number of the sport’s best gamers will be part of members of the general public with prize cash up for grabs. Upon being unveiled as the brand new co-host, Hendry paid heat tribute to the unique run, by which he made a number of visitor appearances.
“Massive Break was a singular mixture of trick photographs and nice leisure and I am unable to wait to be again on the desk and bringing this unimaginable present to a complete new viewers and who is aware of, we would encourage the subsequent technology of snooker gamers to get into the game,” he mentioned.
Virgo continued to be a well-recognized face within the BBC’s snooker protection even after Massive Break disappeared from our screens. He was a mainstay within the commentary sales space and was final heard calling the motion on the Masters within the month earlier than his passing.
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