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Big Break is a British game show that aired on BBC1 from 30 April 1991 and 10 August 2002 and hosted by Jim Davidson with John Virgo as referee.
- Sports Game Show
- Synopsis
- Key Moments
- Catchphrases
- Inventor
- Theme Music
- Trivia
- Web Links
Long-running vehicle for blue-comedian-turned-good Jim Davidsonto lark about and make silly voices alongside snooker player and commentator John Virgo. They both guide three teams through the rounds. Each team is made up of a contestant and a professional snooker player.
World Snooker Champion Stephen Hendry scoring not terribly many reds in Round 1. Jim Davidson's cruel impressions of various snooker players, including Terry Griffiths, Dennis Taylor and Ray Reardon. Mind you, Virgo used to do the same in the past - but probably more affectionately. Virgo's "it's foolproof" trick shots - oh, and his lively waistcoa...
"Pot as many balls as you can" "We ask you to make your break". "The time will start the next time you strike the cueball". "Hit it quick!" Davidson and Virgo used to sign off each show with, respectively: "Say goodnight, JV!" - "Goodnight, JV!"
Though credited to Terry Mardell and Mike Kemp by the BBC at the time, a court case in 1998 found that they had effectively stolen the idea from minicab driver Roger Medcalf. The Birmingham Postnewspaper reported that the courts awarded Mr Medcalf £100,000 in damages and a one-third share in income generated by the format.
The theme music is The Snooker Song, composed by "Mr. Wombles" Mike Batt. It is sung by 1980s pop sensation Captain Sensible. It was originally written for Batt's musical The Hunting of the Snark in which Captain Sensible played the role of the Billiard Marker. Mike Batt also did the theme for Germany's biggest gameshow Wetten Dass...?, dontchaknow...
Tony Knowles scored the highest Pocket Money score of £580, which was achieved on 6 April 1996, beating Willie Thorne's record of £540 and Ronnie O'Sullivan's record of £480 on 26 March 1994.
BBC programme page, which includes a 1998 episode as part of a game show collection. Wikipedia entry
Dec 19, 2021 · ICONIC snooker-themed game show Big Break could return to screens after nearly 20 years. Talks are taking place to resurrect the much-loved programme, which ran for 14 series with 17 Christmas ...
- 2 min
Apr 29, 2022 · BBC classic show Big Break attracted 13.9million viewers in its peak, rivalling iconic ITV series Blind Date in the ratings – and now John Virgo wants to bring it back
Jul 22, 2024 · It's been nearly 20 years since that season. Fans might wonder what Donatello has been up to in the interim. They now have an answer - for Donatello and several others - in the form of GolfPass' newest series Big Break: Where Are They Now?
- Tim Gavrich
Dec 21, 2021 · The Sun reports that talks are currently taking place in order to get the snooker-themed entertainment programme back on our screens after 20 years (which is a very big break). It originally ran for 14 series on the BBC, with 17 Christmas specials, between 1991 and 2002.
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May 19, 2001 · TV Guide. All episodes of Big Break.
