The BBC has come under fire from snooker enthusiasts after a historic frame between Mark Allen and Wu Yize was abruptly removed from live television to make way for a rerun of the game show House of Games. The frame, which lasted an astonishing 100 minutes and 21 seconds, set a new record as the longest in World Snooker Championship history.
The Record-Breaking Frame
During the semi-final clash at the Crucible Theatre, Allen and Wu found themselves locked in a tense stalemate. The cue ball was nudged into eight reds while the black ball teetered precariously on the lip of the corner pocket. Referee Marcel Eckhardt intervened, warning both players that the frame would be re-racked if the deadlock persisted. Eventually, Wu emerged victorious with an 88-62 scoreline, but not before the live broadcast had been shifted to BBC iPlayer.
Viewer Outrage
Snooker fans took to social media to express their fury. One viewer described the decision as 'genuinely astonishing,' while another fumed: 'Yes, BBC Two actually did abandon one of the craziest frames of snooker in Crucible history for a 2024 episode of House of Games.' Some suggested the BBC should have a dedicated snooker channel, noting that BBC Three and BBC Four were idle until 7pm. Several viewers claimed to have lodged formal complaints, with one branding the move a 'disgrace.'
Richard Osman Weighs In
Ironically, Richard Osman, the presenter of the House of Games episode that aired, criticised the decision on social media. He revealed that at the point of the switch, 1.4 million viewers were watching the snooker, making it the highest-rated frame of the championships. When asked if the BBC had erred, Osman acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but noted that viewers have grown accustomed to using iPlayer and the Red Button for extended coverage.
Previous Technical Issues
This was not the first time the BBC had frustrated snooker fans during the tournament. Days earlier, coverage of the same match was interrupted for 12 minutes due to a power outage at the Crucible, forcing a switch to a wildlife programme. The BBC apologised on social media, citing technical faults. Presenter Hazel Irvine later explained: 'We had a rather unexpected power issue. Nothing to do with not feeding the meter I assure you! We lost power but Mark Allen did not.'
The BBC directed viewers to iPlayer and other platforms for the remainder of the session, but the damage was done. Snooker enthusiasts continue to demand better coverage for major tournaments.
