Big Break

:"For The Golf Channel's reality show of the same name, see "The Big Break".":"For the Soviet TV miniseries, see "Big School-Break"Infobox Television
show_name = Big Break


caption =
format = Game Show
picture_format = 4:3 (1991 - 2000) 16:9 (2001 - 2002)
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
starring = Jim Davidson
John Virgo
channel = BBC1
first_aired = 30 April 1991
last_aired = 9 October 2002
num_series =
num_episodes = 239
country = UK
producer =
related =
imdb_id =

"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.

Format of the show

The show was presented by comedian Jim Davidson and former snooker player, later commentator, John Virgo, who was known for being the butt of many of Davidson's jokes. The audience would also be known in occasional shows for being rather dull and lacking enthusiasm, sometimes having to be told to clap by Davidson when a contestant answered a question correctly. The show's theme song is "The Snooker Song", from the musical "The Hunting of the Snark" composed by Mike Batt and performed by Captain Sensible.

The show was renowned for its light-hearted and comedic tone for many reasons. One of which was the chemistry between Davidson and Virgo, in which Davidson would frequently mock Virgo for his dress-sense or his personality. This made many viewers sympathetic for Virgo. However, Virgo would occasionally come back with wisecracks and insults, one example involved Davidson telling Virgo he would talk very slow because Virgo was a northerner, before Virgo said "Well, Jim, I know you're a southerner, so I'm not going to listen.". Other comic aspects were the occasional contestant who failed to understand many of the questions they were asked, and also the light hearted personality of snooker players, most notably, Dennis Taylor.

The show's set consisted of a snooker table and three pairs of chairs at the side of the studio, with Virgo standing on the opposite side of the snooker table and the question board which would be revealed in the second round.The show began with Davidson giving a short monologue and then introducing Virgo who would enter the set with a bag of snooker balls which would be used in the first round.

All contestants would go home with at least a snooker cue and Big Break trophy, regardless of what round they reach.

Red Hot

After introducing and chatting to each contestant, they would randomly select a ball from a bag Davidson was holding. The bag contained a red ball, a yellow ball and a blue ball, which Davidson once described as "the thing you get on a colour TV" even though the colours on a TV screen are red, blue and *green* not yellow. Each coloured ball represented a professional snooker player who Virgo would introduce. (Virgo could have randomly chosen a player himself as players had no indication what colour they were. However, he could occasionally be seen holding a card which could possibly have noted which colours the players represented.)

After introducing the players, the first round, Red Hot, would be played. It would begin with a player having ten seconds added to a clock, and being asked three questions to gain ten seconds for each question answered correctly. The questions were usually riddles or trick questions, with the second question often asking the contestant which two words sound the same by answering clues. (For example, a number (four), and the opposite of against (for).)

After the questions were answered, the snooker players had the rewarded amount of time to pot ten red snooker balls, which Davidson and Virgo described as being very complicated rules. The contestant whose player potted the least balls would be out of the game and play the next round for a consolation prize.

Virgo's trick shot

This mini-game consisted of Virgo setting up a trick shot for the losing contestant. After demonstrating the shot, Virgo would set the shot up again for the player to attempt, whilst Davidson would show what prize the player could win. Prizes included binoculars, clock radios and champagne.

If they completed the shot successfully, they won the prize. If the contestant came close to winning but failed, Davidson or Virgo would often knock the snooker ball into the pocket. However, if the player lost, which was very rare, Davidson would offer an old record by an unpopular artist who the contestant wouldn't recognise.

In the first episode of "Big Break", Virgo performed the trick shot dressed as Willie Thorne. He would also occasionally mock various other players, including Jimmy White.

Ou-takes of Virgo's failed attempts at some trick shows were frequently seen on Auntie's Bloomers.

Pocket Money

In the next round, contestants would have the chance of winning money. Each snooker player had to play by traditional snooker rules for ninety seconds with the snooker balls being worth amounts of money. Each red ball was worth £10 when potted, with each coloured ball being worth up to £70 per pot. If the player potted a coloured ball in an indicated colour pocket, the amount would be doubled for that pot.

If the player missed, the contestant would have to answer a question on a specific subject, depending on what ball was missed. Categories included Pot Luck (Red), Past (Yellow), Music (Green), Places (Brown), People (Blue), Sports (Pink) and Screen (Black). If answered correctly, Davidson would shout "Play!" so the snooker player would continue. If the contestant answered incorrectly, Davidson would have to ask another question. If the player continually answered wrong, Davidson would either give the player clues, over-articulate the right answer or, if he got lost with the questions, give up and shout "Play!" anyway.

Each player won the amount of money the snooker player gained, and the contestant with the most money went on to play the final round.

Make or Break

In Make Or Break, contestants could win a variety of prizes. Contestants would be given ninety seconds to answer five general knowledge questions asked by Davidson. Each correct answer allowed the snooker player to remove one red ball from the table. After the questions were answered, the remaining time was given to the snooker player to clear the snooker table with only six reds on the table. One red ball and each coloured ball represented a prize, ranging from champagne, short breaks, televisions, computers and games consoles. The black ball represented the Mystery Star Prize, often a holiday, though on occasion a booby prize.

The snooker player would play by traditional rules to clear the table, with the support of having red balls removed. The player had the remaining time, left from when the contestant answered his or her questions, to pot all the balls. The first red potted won the player the first prize. However, the contestant could not win any more prizes until the player cleared all the reds from the table, and began potting the yellow ball up to the black ball.

At the end of the programme, there is usually another familiar catchphrase - Davidson says "Say good night, JV.", to which Virgo replies, "Good night, JV."

Transmissions

eries

tars of the Future

nooker Scrapbook

Repeats

The digital channel Challenge have recurringly shown repeats of the first 2 series of Big Break from 1991 to 1992.

External links

* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Big_Break "Big Break"] at UKgameshows.com