Hazel Irvine and Ken Doherty could not contain their laughter following an X-rated comment from snooker legend Steve Davis, live on the BBC. The trio were discussing Ronnie O’Sullivan’s World Snooker Championship clash with debutant He Guoqiang, with former Manchester United star Paul Scholes in attendance at the Crucible.
Irvine made a cheeky joke that Scholes was a ginger magician, just like Davis during his playing days. However, neither she nor Doherty could have predicted the response from the snooker legend, with his response leaving them in hysterics.
Live on the BBC, Ivrine 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.”
Fellow presenter, Ken Doherty said: “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.”
“A ginger magician, and another one (points at Steve Davis),” Irvine replied before a cheeky interchange from Doherty and Davis.
Doherty said:”Well he used to be ginger.” The six-time snooker world champion responded: “I still might be.”
Irvine and Doherty could not contain their laughter. Irvine said: “You’ve completely floored us with that one, thanks for that Steve. Impressions of that first frame of the afternoon?”
The pair continued laughing while Davis responded: “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,” while Doherty added: “It’s done me, it’s done me.”
The BBC presenter tried to restore some order and said: “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?”
“It’ll be very hard to but what it will be, it’ll be a great learning experience for him in a way,” Doherty said. “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.”