Jim Davidson has made his feelings clear on the return of Big Break, taking aim at the BBC and new host Paddy McGuinness while admitting he doesn't know who McGuinness is.
Big Break set for 2026 comeback
For the first time in nearly 25 years, the beloved snooker gameshow Big Break is set to return to screens in 2026. The BBC confirmed earlier this year that the iconic show would make its comeback with two new famous faces at the helm: former Take Me Out and Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness as host, and seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry joining him in the studio.
The show, which sees professional snooker players joining contestants in a bid to win cash prizes, originally launched in 1991 and quickly became a cult hit, with comedian Jim Davidson and former snooker champion John Virgo fronting it. The original series ran for over a decade, with viewing figures peaking at almost 14 million, before airing for the final time in 2002.
Davidson's criticism of the reboot
Announcing the show's return, the BBC confirmed the revamped series will have a “brand-new look and feel” while retaining the spirit of the original, with Hendry set to showcase trick shots. The announcement came just weeks after BBC commentator and 'The Voice of Snooker' Virgo died suddenly at the age of 79, while Davidson was overlooked for returning to his old presenting role.
The 72-year-old, who has been widely criticised for controversial remarks about women, racial and ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community, has since argued that the revamped show has "a tough act to follow". In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Davidson hit out at the BBC and remarked that the show needed "someone who is a little bit more than an autocue reader".
'A tough act to follow'
"It's gonna be a tough act to follow," he said. "It was a great, great programme on the Saturday nights and maybe in the week as well. We were pulling in thousands and thousands and thousands. We used to film four a day and it was hard work. It was. It's not an easy show to do, trust me on that."
"Plus, the BBC doesn't really know how to make TV programmes, so there you go. Deal with that. Paddy McGuinness, I don't know him so I can't comment, but I don't know what he does? Is he a comic? Like Vernon Kay, just reads the autocue or what? I don't know. It needs someone who is a little bit more than an autocue reader. Stephen Hendry I admire and I like. He's a nice guy. I like him a lot."
Davidson added: "Whether he is John Virgo… John Virgo was brought in because he was funny. He was the snooker player's comedian. That's why it worked."
Wishes of luck
Admitting he would like to be fronting the reboot but adding that he "can't bear" the BBC, Davidson continued: "I have the ability to ad lib and live and bounce on my feet and John and I developed this chemistry. I hope that this Paddy McGuinness and Stephen Hendry try and pull something together. It's a big act to follow, lads but I wish you luck. Don't look back at what we did and carry on and do what you want to do. Whether the public will take to you, that's up to you guys."
"I wish I were doing it," he added. "Not for the BBC because I can't bear them. But Paddy and Stephen, I and John up there somewhere in the great gambling den in the sky, we wish you luck."
