BBC snooker coverage took an unexpected turn when Steve Davis made a cheeky comment live on air, leaving Hazel Irvine and Ken Doherty struggling to keep a straight face. The incident unfolded during a discussion about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s World Snooker Championship match with He Guoqiang. Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes was also spotted in the crowd at the Crucible.
The Comment That Sparked Laughter
The presenting trio had been discussing Paul Scholes’ attendance at the Crucible. Irvine cheekily mentioned that Scholes was a ginger magician, similar to how Davis was in his playing days. However, neither Irvine nor Doherty anticipated Davis’s response.
Irvine said: “A little nod and a smile (from Ronnie O’Sullivan) to someone in the audience. I wonder if it was Paul Scholes. Good to see him here.” Doherty added: “Yeah fantastic, one great watching another. What a player he was and he loves the snooker. A lot of the footballers, they love to play snooker in their spare time and it’s great to have them here.” Irvine then replied: “A ginger magician, and another one (points at Steve Davis),” which led to an exchange between Doherty and Davis.
Doherty commented: “Well he used to be ginger.” Davis responded: “I still might be.” This comment sent Irvine and Doherty into fits of laughter.
Aftermath and Attempts to Regain Composure
Irvine, still laughing, remarked: “You’ve completely floored us with that one, thanks for that Steve. Impressions of that first frame of the afternoon?” While the pair continued laughing, Davis managed to provide some commentary on the match: “Well for a little while I thought Ronnie made a bad decision to change cues but all of a sudden he got enough chances and he’s off and running. (Turns to Ken) Don’t laugh too much.” Irvine said: “He can’t help but laugh,” and Doherty added: “It’s done me, it’s done me.”
Irvine attempted to steer the conversation back to the snooker, stating: “It’s done me as well. Let’s get things back on track now. In terms of He Guoqiang’s experience here, this is slightly beginning to feel a bit demoralising from his perspective. How do you dig yourself out of that situation?”
Doherty responded: “It’ll be very hard to but what it will be, it’ll be a great learning experience for him in a way. Playing Ronnie O’Sullivan, playing at the Crucible, in the heat of battle yes he hasn’t been up to the charge but he’ll learn a lot from it, watching him play and the whole experience of playing the Crucible and the way he got through qualifying was magnificent. He hasn’t performed but just enjoy it now.”