Naked pockets Big Break revival for BBC2

Naked is rebooting 90s snooker-themed quiz show Big Break for the BBC.

The 20 x 30-minute series has been ordered by BBC Daytime and will be co-produced with Vibrant Television. It will air on BBC2.

Paddy McGuinness and Stephen Hendry will take on presenting duties, joined by professional snooker players from across the globe who play in a bid to win their contestants the cash prize.

The BBC promises the reboot will “stay true” to the spirit of the original show, which sees three contestants and their pros compete across three rounds of trick shots to reach the finale.

The new-look Big Break will blend fast-paced, high-stakes snooker with comedy entertainment as Hendry steps into the role played by the late John Virgo in the original, showcasing novel trick shots. It will also showcase new camera angles so viewers can get up close and personal with the pros.

Big Break originally aired on BBC1, running for 14 series and 17 Christmas specials between 1991 and 2002, with Virgo providing the professional foil to comedian Jim Davidson hosting.

The revived Big Break will be produced by Fremantle label Naked West and was commissioned for BBC2 by head of BBC Daytime and early peak commissioning Rob Unsworth, with Alex McLeod serving as the commissioning editor for BBC Daytime.

Paul Broadbent and Eve Winstanley exec produce for Naked, with Bernard Markey undertaking the same duties for Vibrant Television.

All3Media International and Fremantle International are collaborating on the international distribution of the format rights – with All3Media International managing ancillary rights exclusively.

Unsworth said: “This revamp will showcase some of the game’s best-known and up-and-coming faces, as well as tapping into the deep well of snooker fandom online and already on the BBC.

“The recent World Championships pulled in 120m viewing hours, so pairing upcoming live coverage with the new Big Break will mean audiences can come together with the whole family to enjoy more of what they want.”

Tom O’Brien, Naked’s managing director, added: “Big Break is a format that has been off air for much too long a time – we’ve worked extremely hard to get this back onto our screens again, and I really hope everyone will love the magic of the new show and will once again be singing along with TV’s most iconic theme tune.”

Mobashir Dar, chief executive of Vibrant Television, said: “Big Break is such an iconic show from our childhood, and we couldn’t be happier to be working alongside Naked and Fremantle to bring it back to our screens.”

Production on Big Break is set to commence soon, with casting still underway.