BBC announce return of iconic 90s TV show with Paddy McGuinness as new host
The BBC have announced that Paddy McGuinness will host a new version of the classic TV show which was adored by fans
Paddy McGuinness (Image: Getty Images)
The BBC has confirmed iconic snooker gameshow Big Break is returning to screens more than two decades after it last aired.
The much-loved programme will be revived on BBC Two with presenter Paddy McGuinness hosting alongside seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
The broadcaster says the revamped series will feature a “brand-new look and feel” while retaining the spirit of the original show, which became one of British television’s most recognisable sports entertainment programmes during the 1990s.
The original Big Break became a cult hit after launching in 1991, fronted by comedian Jim Davidson and former world champion John Virgo, who sadly passed away earlier this year, with its theme tune and trick-shot segments becoming especially memorable among viewers.
In the new iteration, professional snooker players from across the circuit will join contestants in a bid to win cash prizes, while Hendry will also showcase a range of new trick shots.
McGuinness 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 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 BBC says audiences will be able to see the game “from every angle”, including camera shots placed “on the table, behind the ball and into frame”.
Three contestants and their professional partners will compete across three rounds before a final showdown.
Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, said snooker fans and professionals had been “calling for Big Break’s return”.
He said: “This revamp will showcase some of the game’s best known and up-and-coming faces, as well as tapping into the deep well of snooker fandom online and already on the BBC.”
The new series will consist of 20 episodes, each running for 30 minutes, with production due to begin shortly.
BBC bosses say the reboot comes amid soaring interest in snooker coverage, with this year’s World Championship reportedly attracting 120 million viewing hours.
