Ted Lowe, whispering through the years

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When one thinks of snooker commentary, a name instantly comes to mind and that is Ted Lowe. Ted started his career as the manager of a snooker club in London, Leicester Square Hall but literally got his biggest break when a BBC sport’s commentator became ill with laryngitis.

Lowe was an instant success and provided the commentary for Pot Black from 1969 until it finished in the mid 1980s. His distinctive voice was crafted through having to whisper through matches as all commentary was done in the venue, usually with a microphone on the stairs of the venue.

Ted later went on to commentate on all the BBC tournaments and used his voice to craft wisdom and drama into the programme.

Lowe’s voice is probably the most mimicked by impressionists of the time and was loved and respected by all in the game.


He retired from the BBC in 2005 after the World Championship final and passed away in 2011, aged 90, during the first session of the World Championship final. A great man with such a knowledge of the game who used his voice to to tell the snooker narrative.

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