Inside BBC’s commentary box for UK Snooker Championship as legendary host gives glimpse behind the scenes
LEGENDARY BBC commentator Rob Walker has provided fans with a behind the scenes glimpse of the commentary box at the UK Championship.
In an exclusive video for SunSport, Walker broke down how a typical broadcast in the commentary box can go.
He also shared his tips and tricks for how he plans and prepares for games.
Walker said: “This is a very brief insight into one of my favourite places at any snooker venue, the commentary box.
“We have this glass, we have to try and remember to keep our voices down which was difficult because I had the honour of commentating on my first 147 with Zhang Anda on this table.
“In really excitable moments your commentary can be heard on the arena floor but you have to hope that that’s at a time when the crowd are cheering.”
Walker revealed a page of his handwritten notes before Jak Jones clash with Michael Holt – which was won 6-5 by Holt – showing how he had Jones on the left with what he had done this season, their head-to-heads and some major career milestones and notable events.
He then pointed to a screen which he named “the fruit machine”.
The “brilliant piece of kit” shows the scores and the stats from the games, the screen still displaying numbers from the Zhang v Stuart Bingham match.
He said: “So your eye can be quickly drawn. Anything in yellow it to do with Zhang and anything in blue is Bingham.”
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Reflecting more broadly on the role, the 49-year-old said: “It’s a real privilege to sit in this seat.
“And also what I’ve learned from people like Ken Doherty and John Virgo and all the great, great snooker commentators, [is that] you always need to let snooker breathe.
“So sometimes it’s about saying less, rather than more and you’e really got to pick your moments.
“But I think it’s a real privilege to have an opportunity to commentate on any sporting event, especially when you bare in mind how hard the sportsmen and women work to get to where they are.”
Walker concluded by adding: “So you always have to do your homework and you get a great sense of excitement.
“So the commentary boxes are very, very special places to be indeed.”
The first two quarter-finals are underway right now and see Judd Trump taking on Zhang, while Barry Hawkins is up against Shaun Murphy.
The next two will see Jack Lisowski take on Mark Allen and Holt go up against Kyren Wilson for the semi-final spots.
The winner of the UK Championship will take home £250,000.