This Is Your Life: Pot Black

The rise in the popularity of snooker during the 1970s, in the new age of colour television, was a cue for the This Is Your Life team to feature some of the rising new stars of the sport.

So, let's chalk up the names of those players, along with a presenter long associated with the sport, who all pocketed an exceptional kind of red - the Big Red Book treatment...

		Ray REARDON 14 January 1976 'There's one red you haven't potted yet' is how Eamonn greeted Ray - the first snooker player to become a This Is Your Life subject - when he surprised him during a recording session for Thames Television's Ladbroke International series at the Swiss Cottage Holiday Inn in London. Among Ray's guests are Alex Higgins and legendary world champion Joe Davis.


		Terry GRIFFITHS 16 January 1980 The recently crowned World Champion was surprised by Eamonn, disguised as a bus conductor - and a group of his old friends - when the bus they were travelling in blocked the path of his car in a central London street. Terry - a former bus conductor himself - was greeted by, among others, fellow Welshman, comedian Max Boyce, and fellow snooker player Dennis Taylor.


		Alex HIGGINS 11 February 1981 Nicknamed The Hurricane because of the speed of his play - and also known as The People's Champion because of his popularity - Alex was surprised by Eamonn at London's Pot Black Club. Stars from snooker and entertainment combined to pay tribute, including singer Suzi Quatro and actor Oliver Reed.


		Dennis TAYLOR 23 October 1985 The 1985 World Champion - well known for his sense of humour and his trademark oversized spectacles - was surprised by Eamonn in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. Dennis is greeted by his fellow Irishmen, comedians Frank Carson and Jimmy Cricket in the studio, and boxer Barry McGuigan via a recorded message.


		Joe JOHNSON 26 November 1986 Eamonn surprised the 1986 World Champion while performing with his band, Made in Japan, at Thames Television's Teddington Studios. Guests include snooker's Terry Griffiths, Dennis Taylor and Alex Higgins, and the singer Gerard Kenny, whose song I Made It Through The Rain is credited by Joe as inspiring him through difficult times.


		Stephen HENDRY 28 November 1990 The youngest ever snooker World Champion protested, 'But I'm only twenty-one!' when he was surprised by Michael - and a group of his fellow snooker players - in the foyer of Thames Television's Euston Road Studios. Back at Teddington Studios, Stephen - who started playing snooker at the age of 12 - is greeted by his hero Jimmy White.


		Jimmy WHITE 10 March 1993 Michael surprised Jimmy - nicknamed The Whirlwind because of his fluid, attacking style of play - at the Ritz snooker hall in Twickenham with the help of fellow snooker player John Virgo. Jimmy is greeted by comedian Bobby Davro in the studio while musician Ronnie Wood and boxer Nigel Benn send recorded messages.


		John VIRGO 3 January 1996 The former professional snooker player turned television personality was surprised while appearing on BBC television's The Generation Game with comedian Jim Davidson. John was supposed to hand a fake Big Red Book to one of the game's contestants, but the book proved genuine when Michael arrived and removed a false cover to reveal John's name embossed in gold!


		David VINE 28 February 2000 Michael surprised the sports presenter - long associated with snooker - as he introduced the Masters Snooker Tournament at London's Wembley Conference Centre. Among the many sporting names paying tribute to David, who began his career as a newspaper reporter, are showjumper David Broome, boxer Henry Cooper and racing driver Stirling Moss.