Big Break

1991

Seasons & Episodes

  • 14
  • 13
  • 12
  • 11
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
6.7| NA| en| More Info
Released: 30 April 1991 Ended
Producted By:
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

Big Break is a British game show based around the game of snooker, mixed with traditional game show elements. It was broadcast on BBC1 between 30 April 1991 and 9 October 2002. It influenced a later game show for the network called Full Swing, but based around golf, and itself was in part influenced by ITV's long-running darts quiz Bullseye.

Genre

Comedy

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Big Break Audience Reviews

Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring
AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.
crawfrordboon I don't even know why this show was axed - the great duo of dour and deadpan John Virgo as the referee, and manic 'cheekie chappie' Jim Davidson as the host and quiz master, plus a mix of general knowledge quiz and snooker - it was never unpopular. The most likely cause of its axing would have to have been the BBC deciding, in its own 'poliitcally correct' manner, that Jim Davidson was an inappropriate figure to be hosting one of their shows. In fairness Jim is a little risqué with his jokes, and the Beeb maybe felt it could not give recognition to someone who makes a living talking about "the bloody frogs" etc, but the point is, as a comedy talent on a family show, Davidson was pretty impressive, especially in his banter with Virgo, which rivals the Paul Merton - Ian Hislop double act on Have I Got News For You.The format is pretty simple - 4 rounds of different formats whittle down the three initial contestant / snooker pro duos, to eventually find a winner and what that winner will take home. Although the real characters of the game were never given that much scope to entertain, it was nice to see players from the past showing they could still do it - Masters Veterans like Ray Rearden and Dennis Taylor were regular guests. One memorable quirk was when the first contestant to be eliminated could pick up a consolation prize in the 'Trick Shot' round, where John Virgo would demonstrate a trick shot, and invite the contestant to repeat it. This was always done with great enthusiasm and was a real crowd pleaser, especially when the contestant got it right after Virgo had fluffed the demonstration himself! The trivia part was always interesting, as were the skills shown by the various snooker stars who made guest appearances, but the best element was always the John and Him combination. They just looked like they were having such a good time, and that's the point of Saturday night TV, I don't want to know how smart I am (Test the Nation), I don't buy lottery tickets, and every time Ant and Dec hit the screen I reach for my revolver. BB was good clean fun, and its a crime that Aunty saw fit to give it the boot.
Theo Robertson Snooker is a game similar to billiards played on a table 12 foot long by 6 foot wide . Six coloured balls make up a " T " with fifteen red balls shaped like a triangle placed about three quarters down the length of the table . The idea is to pot a red ball , then pot a coloured ball , red , coloured , red , coloured in that sequence with the player getting the most points winning that game which in snooker lingo is called a " frame " . It was absolutely phenominal in its popularity in the early 1980s and BIG BREAK is a quiz show cashing in somewhat belatedly on the popularity of the sport The show is introduced by boring unfunny comedian Jim Davidson and former ( Not very successful ) snooker star John Virgo and the show revolves contestants answering general knowledge questions and depending how well they do the snooker player has to pot a certain amount of balls . If you`ve watched a single edition of this show you`ll know what the format is since - Like Davidson`s jokes - the format remains the same My main gripe about the show is the very boring snooker players they have on the show . This sport has brought us some rogues over the years who have made more headlines on the front pages of newspapers than the back ones . I guess the producers don`t want to upset the contestants or have any scandals and that`s why Tony Knowles always gets paired up with the senior citizen . Yeah it`s only boring players like Steve Davis , John Parrot , Matthew Stevens and John Higgins . It`s a great pity the wild man of snooker Alex " Hurricane " Higgins never gets invited on , but I suppose that`s to do with the health concerns of the contestants , presenters , fellow snooker pros and audience members . I also doubt after this year`s world championship we`ll see Quintan Hann and Andy Hicks appear on the same show
Chris Horry If you can avoid the scenes where Jim Davison is trying to be funny, it's actually a pretty entertaining show. The real stars are the guest snooker players showing off their skills and Jim Virgo's trick shots.
baz-15 Popular tv game show where star snooker players try to win money for normal people. it is hosted by none other than jim davidson, one of the most unfunny comedians of the last 30 years. john virgo, former player and current tv commentator, picks the balls out of the pockets. Awful.