Willie turns the air blue with a Crucible blooper
WILLIE THORNE has been warned he must not repeat his mistake after swearing live on air when commentating on the first day of the Betfred World Championship.
The 63-year-old former cueman was on duty alongside 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon for the Crucible match between Scots Stephen Maguire and Anthony McGill yesterday.
And in a lapse when remarking on how McGill was struggling, and would lose the opening session 7-2, Thorne let slip an expletive while describing how difficult it is to play under pressure at the Crucible.
Two-time former world champion Mark Williams wrote on Twitter: “Oh dear Willie”, as the slip-up gained a wider audience on social media.
The match was broadcast on the BBC red button, and Thorne has apologised to his employers for the blunder.
Graham Fry, managing director of programme makers IMG Productions, said: “Willie deeply regrets what he said and is well aware that this can’t happen again.
“All the commentators were warned that their mikes are live all day here at the Crucible.”
Thorne won the Mercantile Credit Classic tournament in 1985 and the Leicester man was known as “Mr Maximum” during his playing career, which ended in 2002.
He is a regular commentator on the BBC’s snooker coverage and a familiar face and voice to millions of sport fans.
Thorne’s blunder comes a year after fellow veteran commentator John Virgo apologised after he was also heard swearing on air during a semi-final between Mark Selby and Marco Fu at the World Championship.
Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan was given a rocky ride by former taxi driver Gary Wilson as the Rocket began his bid for a sixth title.
Wallsend cueman Wilson is making his Crucible debut after coming through the qualifying rounds in dazzling style, firing eight centuries over three matches including a 147 maximum break.
And while O’Sullivan looked en route for the second round when he surged 5-1 ahead, Wilson plotted his way back into the contest to trail only 5-4 overnight.