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In 1985 18½ million people watched Dennis Taylor make one of the biggest sporting comebacks. In an extended interview with Stephen Watson, Dennis reveals the story behind his win.

As a child Dennis Taylor would practice playing snooker with a wooden spoon and marbles on his family’s kitchen table. It wasn’t long however before the man from Coalisland was making a name for himself on the professional snooker circuit. He was in the right place at exactly the right time.

The advent of colour television had brought with it the arrival of 91Èȱ¬ Two’s Pot Black series, and the best snooker players were becoming household names.

Yet while Dennis often reached tournament finals, he always seemed to falter – leading the press to class him as an eternal runner up. In 1985 however, everything would change with Dennis going on to make the ultimate sporting comeback in a match watched by a record-breaking 18½ million people.

In this specially extended interview from the series This Sporting Life, Dennis recounts his 1985 World Championship title win – and reveals the origin of those famous upside down glasses.

Release date:

37 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Stephen Watson
Series Producer Simon Miller
Executive Producer Mary McKeagney