Snooker fans furious with BBC as World Championship coverage ends

Snooker fans were left furious after Joe Perry’s World Snooker Championship clash with Robert Milkins was taken off air on Thursday afternoon – meaning the conclusion to the match wasn’t available to watch live on BBC iPlayer. The rollercoaster encounter, which had already been halted by Just Stop Oil protesters on Monday, was about to reach a thrilling climax when the coverage was interrupted.

Perry had been miles clear of his opponent at the start of Thursday morning’s session, leading 7-2 before a dramatic swing of the pendulum. He then led 8-4 as he looked to move into round two.

But Milkins pulled level to 8-8 and just as we entered the tense final frames of the thrilling match, the BBC ended their coverage. Despite promises it would still be shown via the red button and on iPlayer, fans could not find it.

The BBC said during commentary: “Well unfortunately we have to leave this match here on BBC Two but I urge you to press that red button. You don’t want to miss the conclusion of this one. We’ll be back at 1pm to bring you up to date. We will see you very, very soon.”

Fans at home were panicked and frantically tried to tune back into the action but iPlayer failed come up with the goods, which was instead airing Politics Live.

Angry Twitter user @bittertoffee tweeted: “Not the greatest of ideas to take the Milkins v Perry game off BBC Iplayer is it. The idea that everybody is just at home watching it on TV is pretty naive.”

While @ElizaNarrowboat added: “@BBCSport milkins v perry final frames not on iplayer as promised, great…”

@silatrevor68 continued: “Just interrupted world snooker for politics – which is more popular and screwed up live Milkins/Perry match – not on red button or iplayer. Bad!!!”

@castrother was also furious, writing: “@BBCSport Milkins v Perry final stages not available on iplayer / red button. What’s happening!!!! #snooker.”

@JohnSmi79192764 wasn’t happy either: “Why so hard to find the live snooker. Perry v milkins kicked off BBC 2. Load iPlayer and click on Perry v milkins and get politics live.

“Go to categories, sport and not in all the world championship snooker episodes. Crucial time of match, rubbish from BBC.”

Milkins would go on to win the match 10-9 to book his spot in the next round of the tournament. The match had to be rescheduled after on Tuesday night it was disrupted by a Just Stop Oil protest at the Crucible.