BBC’s Snooker Championship Schedule Change Sparks Fan Fury

On April 21, 2025, snooker fans across the UK were left seething when the BBC abruptly pulled live coverage of the World Snooker Championship from its main television schedule to broadcast a news special on the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 from a cerebral hemorrhage. The third day of the prestigious tournament at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, originally set to air from 10 AM on BBC Two, was replaced by Rip-Off Britain, a consumer affairs show, while snooker was relegated to the less accessible Red Button service. The decision, reported by The Daily Mail and widely criticized on X, ignited a firestorm of complaints from viewers who called it “bewildering” and a “disgrace.” This article explores the scheduling change, the context of the 2025 World Snooker Championship, the significance of Pope Francis’s death, and the broader implications for BBC’s programming priorities, drawing on recent reports and public sentiment to unpack why this moment has struck a nerve with sports fans.

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Pope Francis was confirmed dead at the age of 88 on Monday morning

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Covrage of the snooker was moved to the Red Button, with Rip-Off Britain replacing it on BBC Two, while there was a BBC News Special covering the Pope’s death on BBC One

Fans were left baffled as to why the BBC were not showing the snooker on BBC Two as usual

One viewer tuned in at 10am only to be disappointed that the snooker was not on BBC Two

An X user was astounded that the BBC had ‘shafted’ the snooker to show Rip-Off Britain

The Scheduling Fiasco: Snooker Sidelined

The World Snooker Championship, held annually at the Crucible Theatre since 1977, is a cornerstone of British sports broadcasting, known for its intense matches and iconic moments, like Dennis Taylor’s 1985 “black ball” final against Steve Davis, watched by 18 million viewers. On April 21, the tournament’s third day featured first-round action, including matches involving top players like Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump. Fans eagerly tuned into BBC Two, expecting live coverage from 10 AM, as advertised in the tournament’s comprehensive broadcast schedule, which includes BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, iPlayer, and the Red Button.

However, at 7:35 AM local time, the Vatican announced Pope Francis’s death, prompting the BBC to overhaul its schedule. BBC One aired a BBC News Special to cover the pontiff’s passing, a decision aligned with the global significance of the event. The ripple effect hit BBC Two, where Rip-Off Britain, originally slated for BBC One, was slotted into the 10 AM window, displacing snooker coverage. The Crucible matches were shunted to the Red Button, a digital service less accessible to viewers without smart TVs or specific remote setups, and not all matches were immediately available on iPlayer. The snooker returned to BBC Two at 1 PM for the afternoon session, featuring former finalist Ding Junhui, but the morning disruption left fans furious.

X posts captured the immediate backlash. One user, @shillcock_paul, wrote, “In their epic wisdom, BBC decide to replace live coverage of snooker on BBC2 for ‘live coverage’ of death of the Pope, while leaving Homes under the Hammer repeats on BBC1 intact… Aside from the fact they have a 24 hours news channel to cover it all day if they wish.” Others echoed the sentiment, with one fan raging, “Hey #bbc – where is the snooker??? It’s gone 10am!” Another branded the decision “bewildering,” questioning why BBC Two aired “fill-in c***” when BBC News could have handled the Pope’s coverage. The sarcasm was palpable, as one user quipped, “Imagine if the BBC had a dedicated news channel to show major developing stories.”

The 2025 World Snooker Championship: A Tournament of Shocks

The scheduling change came at a particularly charged moment in the 2025 World Snooker Championship, heightening fans’ frustration. The tournament, running from April 19 to May 5, had already delivered major upsets. On the opening day, defending champion Kyren Wilson fell 10-9 to Chinese debutant Lei Peifan, marking the 20th instance of the “Crucible curse,” where no first-time winner has retained the title since the event moved to Sheffield in 1977. Three-time champion Mark Williams advanced with a 10-8 win over Wu Yize, while Welshman Jak Jones, a 2024 finalist, faced a potential early exit, trailing Zhao Xintong 7-2. The high stakes and unpredictable results amplified the importance of live coverage, making the BBC’s decision to prioritize Rip-Off Britain over snooker particularly galling.

The BBC’s coverage, led by presenters Hazel Irvine, Seema Jaswal, and Rishi Persad, with commentary from snooker legends like Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, is typically a gold standard, offering live broadcasts, Snooker Extra recaps, and digital streaming. However, this isn’t the first time fans have felt shortchanged. In 2023, viewers missed a tense final frame between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry when BBC Two cut to Politics Live, and iPlayer streamed the wrong program, prompting calls for the BBC to lose its coverage rights. Similarly, Kyren Wilson’s 147-break was interrupted by a scheduling switch, underscoring a pattern of prioritizing other content over snooker’s climactic moments.

Pope Francis’s Death: A Global Event

The BBC’s decision to alter its schedule was driven by the monumental news of Pope Francis’s death, announced on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. The 88-year-old pontiff, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, died from a cerebral hemorrhage, weeks after battling double pneumonia. His passing triggered a nine-day mourning period, known as the Novendiales, with his body set to lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica and his funeral planned at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, per his wish for simplicity. The Vatican’s preparations, led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, and the upcoming conclave to elect a new pope, dominated global headlines, with tributes pouring in from leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The BBC’s News Special on BBC One was a standard response to such a historic event, reflecting the pontiff’s influence over 1.2 billion Catholics and his advocacy for migrants, climate action, and abuse survivors. However, fans argued that the BBC’s 24-hour news channel, BBC News, could have handled the coverage, leaving BBC Two’s sports schedule intact. The choice to air Rip-Off Britain—a show about consumer scams—over live sports was particularly contentious, as it lacked the urgency of breaking news. Critics pointed out that BBC One retained repeats of Homes Under the Hammer, suggesting a lack of coherence in the scheduling reshuffle.

Fan Frustration: A Deeper Discontent

The outcry over the snooker coverage reflects deeper tensions about the BBC’s programming priorities. Snooker, while a niche sport, commands a dedicated audience, with the Crucible’s intimate 980-seat arena creating a unique atmosphere, even during the fanless 2020 tournament due to COVID-19 restrictions. The sport’s appeal, described by Reuters as “geometric wizardry,” lies in its unpredictable drama, from Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record-breaking 147s to Lei Peifan’s 2025 upset. Fans view the BBC’s coverage as a cultural institution, akin to its Wimbledon or Olympics broadcasts, making disruptions feel like a betrayal.

X posts revealed a mix of anger and sarcasm. One user fumed, “Why then does the snooker get shafted, #BBC1 to move #BBC2 and #BBCNews get duplicated onto BBC1?” Another called the Red Button move a “disgrace,” arguing that digital services are inaccessible to older viewers or those without smart devices. The sentiment echoes past complaints, like the 2023 iPlayer gaffe where fans missed a deciding frame, prompting demands for Sky or Eurosport to take over coverage. Some even referenced the BBC’s dedicated news channel, questioning why it wasn’t utilized to avoid disrupting BBC Two.

The Rip-Off Britain replacement became a lightning rod for mockery, with fans dubbing it “fill-in c***” and questioning its relevance during a global news event. The show’s consumer focus, while popular, seemed trivial compared to the live action at the Crucible, especially given snooker’s high viewership during key moments, like the 18 million who watched the 1985 final.

Broader Implications: BBC’s Balancing Act

The incident highlights the BBC’s challenge in balancing its public service mandate with viewer expectations. As a publicly funded broadcaster, the BBC must cover significant events like a pope’s death, which resonates with millions, including the UK’s Catholic community. However, its decision to prioritize Rip-Off Britain over live sports suggests a misstep in assessing audience priorities. The Red Button, while a viable alternative, is less user-friendly, and the lack of immediate iPlayer streams compounded the issue, recalling the 2023 Politics Live blunder.

This isn’t the first time sports fans have clashed with BBC scheduling. In 2024, Britain’s Got Talent was pulled due to Ofcom complaints, and rugby coverage faced disruptions, indicating a pattern of reactive programming decisions. Snooker fans, already sensitive to perceived slights—like missing Kyren Wilson’s 147—feel the BBC undervalues the sport, especially when compared to football or tennis. Suggestions to use BBC Four for overflow coverage, as proposed in 2023, resurfaced, highlighting a desire for better resource allocation.

Critical Analysis: Fair Move or Misjudgment?

The BBC’s decision was defensible given Pope Francis’s global stature, but the execution was flawed. A dedicated news channel exists for breaking stories, and airing Rip-Off Britain instead of snooker or even extended papal coverage was a baffling choice. The Red Button’s limited accessibility alienated viewers, and the lack of clear communication about streaming options fueled confusion. While the snooker returned at 1 PM, the morning’s disruption damaged trust, reinforcing perceptions that the BBC prioritizes filler content over live events.

From the BBC’s perspective, the suddenness of Francis’s death required a rapid response, and shuffling Rip-Off Britain to BBC Two was likely a logistical necessity. However, retaining Homes Under the Hammer on BBC One while sidelining a major sporting event suggests a lack of strategic coherence. The incident underscores the need for better contingency planning, especially for events like the World Snooker Championship, which carries cultural weight for its dedicated audience.

Conclusion: A Missed Shot for the BBC

The BBC’s decision to pull the World Snooker Championship from BBC Two for Pope Francis’s death coverage, only to replace it with Rip-Off Britain, was a scheduling misstep that turned a reasonable adjustment into a public relations fumble. Snooker fans, already reeling from past coverage gaffes, felt disrespected by the relegation to the Red Button and the choice of a consumer show over live sport. While the pontiff’s death warranted significant coverage, the BBC’s failure to leverage its news channel or communicate streaming options effectively exacerbated the backlash.

As the Crucible continues to deliver drama, from Lei Peifan’s upset to Mark Williams’s resilience, fans deserve a viewing experience that matches the tournament’s intensity. The BBC must learn from this fiasco to balance its broad mandate with the passions of niche audiences, ensuring that the “geometric wizardry” of snooker isn’t overshadowed by avoidable scheduling blunders. For now, the outrage on X and beyond serves as a reminder: in the court of public opinion, even the BBC can miss the pocket when it comes to keeping fans on side.