Picked off the Vine
One of the greatest presenters that snooker has ever seen was the late David Vine. Vine was a BBC anchorman, presenting a multitude of programmes from the 1960s onwards including Ski Sunday, It’s a Knockout, Miss World, Show jumping, Wimbledon and the Eurovision Song Contest.
However David is best remembered for his snooker presentation, fronting the World Championship coverage from 1978 until his retirement in 2000. Vine was so likeable because he brought snooker into your front room and made you feel as if you were part of the tournament. His soft West Country voice drew you in and he was able to combine his television experience with his knowledge and love of the game.
After seventeen days at the Crucible, you knew that Reardon, Davis or Hendry would be interviewed by Vine before they raised the trophy. David was there when the first 147 by Thorburn was televised at the Crucible in 1983, Higgins won the title in 1982 and the infamous Taylor victory in 1985. Spanning over twenty years, David was able to witness the changing of the snooker guard with the mantle passing from Reardon to Davis and then to Hendry. The game changed and snooker styles advanced but Vine never changed his style, preferring instead to continue with his relaxed approach, drawing the answer out of the player by gaining their confidence in a tense atmosphere.
Vine will also be remembered for being there and introducing the snooker montage, a new concept at the time but taken for granted today. This would be a collection of clips from the World Championship accompanied by music of the time. A piece that was effective because it encapsulated the highlights of the tournament. Vine sadly passed away in 2009 after suffering from a heart attack, aged 74. A television icon and a pioneer of modern day television presentation, sadly missed.
https://youtu.be/D4mxHNeLupg
However David is best remembered for his snooker presentation, fronting the World Championship coverage from 1978 until his retirement in 2000. Vine was so likeable because he brought snooker into your front room and made you feel as if you were part of the tournament. His soft West Country voice drew you in and he was able to combine his television experience with his knowledge and love of the game.
After seventeen days at the Crucible, you knew that Reardon, Davis or Hendry would be interviewed by Vine before they raised the trophy. David was there when the first 147 by Thorburn was televised at the Crucible in 1983, Higgins won the title in 1982 and the infamous Taylor victory in 1985. Spanning over twenty years, David was able to witness the changing of the snooker guard with the mantle passing from Reardon to Davis and then to Hendry. The game changed and snooker styles advanced but Vine never changed his style, preferring instead to continue with his relaxed approach, drawing the answer out of the player by gaining their confidence in a tense atmosphere.
Vine will also be remembered for being there and introducing the snooker montage, a new concept at the time but taken for granted today. This would be a collection of clips from the World Championship accompanied by music of the time. A piece that was effective because it encapsulated the highlights of the tournament. Vine sadly passed away in 2009 after suffering from a heart attack, aged 74. A television icon and a pioneer of modern day television presentation, sadly missed.
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