An edition of Big Break from the final series. Broadcast in June 2002 on BBC One. Hosted as ever by Jim Davidson and John Virgo. With thanks to youtuber 'Prezelot" for providing the footage.
22:32 Lol @ Ronnie giving Jim the truth. _'Well I haven't had a good one [break] tonight, have I? [But I'm still here aren't I?]._ Cheeky chappy but he's not wrong! And he goes on to prove it... Intelligent play by using the 'well known' (to any fan of Big Break, which I'm certain he was) 'loopholes' and absolutely smashing it. Just to make it clear. He KNEW there was absolutely no way he could pot three colours after the three reds he was left AND be certain of potting all the colours. The bad position from blue to yellow was his ONLY mistake...but in his typical fashion it didn't phase him.
One of the reasons I watched ANYTHING Snooker oriented since I can remember was the 'gentle' nature between competitors (the other being that I 'fancied' myself a little!). I mean I'm sure behind the scenes it was something of a different story at times (in fact I know there was/is animosity, shenanigans...Barry Hearn's Matchroom, The Hurricane etc). But by and large, even though there was always fierce competition 'on the baize', you always got the impression that 'largely' competitors were on extremely friendly terms. This programme (among others like Pot Black) was a prime example of that. Love to see characters like the absolute great Ray Reardon having fun with old and new contemporaries.
Apparently Stephen Lee was approached by the BBC to appear on the show.... The contract said "you will be expected to run around the table" he read this.... had a mini heart attack and decided it wasn't for him!
This was the death throes of the show, as both Big Break and Jim's Generation Game were being trounced in the ratings by ITV's Pop Idol. The show was axed later in 2002 along with the Generation Game.
doesn't help that around the same time jim's...less wholesome comedy started becoming notable. within about 3 years of this he went from one of the major names of saturday night game shows to persona non grata.
It wasn’t even a repeat. With BB, the BBC just recorded a ton of episodes at Elstree then broadcast some whenever they had a series of weekly half-hour slots to fill. Some 1998 episodes were still getting their first broadcasts in 2001! These episodes recorded in 2001 were transmitted throughout 2002.
A) It looks like Jim doesnt know the difference between there, their and they're B) It looks like he's been told to stop pricking about when the players are at the table and C) It looks like he got very very tired of it all lol
This was the death throes of the show, as both Big Break and Jim's Generation Game were being trounced in the ratings by ITV's Pop Idol. The show was axed later in 2002 along with the Generation Game.
Never liked Pop Idol. Everyone used to chunner on about it but I couldn't and definitely still now CAN'T stand reality TV and all these overrated so called talent shows.
Well, Ryan Day.... his 1st time on Big Break..... and now one of the best snooker players in the world. Well done my son, proud of ew 🏴🏴🏴
+Aidan Lunn (Ferguson Videostar) Weirdly I remember the older style set with the spinning bit of wall and the light blue clock, rather than the 'revamped' sets, quite strange considering I was born in 1993.
They kept the old style set right up to 2001 I think, with just slight adjustments made to them. So it no surprise you might remember the older style more.
I don't think Jim looked overly enthusiastic here. He used to be really lively and funny on this, he looked bored and mildly hacked off about something or other. The new set wasn't as good as the old one either.
By 2002 Jim had gone through four marriages and both his BBC shows, Big Break and the Generation Game were getting hammered in the ratings by ITV. First Popstars and then Pop Idol.
It took any warmth and charm the show had and killed it stone dead. They must have cut back the budget, because the set was dreadful in that last series.
It's because the format was stale af and snooker lost its popularity. Add to this Davidsons lacklustre presenting. And yeah the set is pretty dreadful.
+andy scott Christ sake are you still commenting on this, it was a flippant comment. I understand Reardon was brilliant on his day- but that was a couple of decades before this was filmed. Bobby Charlton was brilliant at football, but he'd struggle to get in the United side next weekend, get it?
