Dennis Taylor's divorce from first wife, BBC U-turn after outcry, Alex Higgins threat

The soothing voice of will again be gracing this weekend's final. The ex-Crucible champion, now 76, continues to be a beloved figure in the sport.

In addition to his victory over in the iconic 'Black Ball Final' of 1985, Taylor is famous for his distinctive upside-down glasses, which played a crucial role in that win. Four decades on from his crowning moment, Taylor continues to tour the country with Davis and fellow legend discussing the most memorable match in history and his overall career.

Meanwhile, he continues to share his humour and insights from the commentary box during Triple Crown events, including the current World Championship. Here's a rundown on Taylor, covering his career earnings, a BBC U-turn and his notorious encounter with fellow Northern Irishman Alex Higgins....

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Career earnings

Taylor raked in around £1.5million in prize money during his professional career from 1972 to 2000. His 1985 title netted him £60,000, equivalent to £183,000 in today's money, according to the Bank of England currency calculator.

This year's champion will pocket £500,000. Taylor also clinched the Masters in 1987, staging an impressive comeback to defeat Higgins and bag £51,000.

BBC backlash

Taylor's days in the commentary box looked numbered in 2022 when announced that the BBC planned to drop the pair, only for the corporation to have a change of heart after a public backlash from snooker fans. The pair were backed by veteran pro-turned-commentator Joe Perry, who has worked alongside both.

"What they know, doesn't come cheaply, that's years and years of experience," he told the "They might miss a few tricks with some shots that some boys play today but they do know their stuff and they're excellent at their job."

Family life

Lancashire-based Taylor has three children with first wife Patricia. The couple later divorced, with Taylor partly putting the marriage breakdown down to the demands on him after winning the world title. He remarried in 2001 to Louise, with the couple having a son and a daughter.

Higgins threat

Taylor found had an, at times, volatile relationship with the game's notorious maverick, 'Hurricane' Higgins. Things took a dark turn during the 1990 World Cup when they represented Northern Ireland together, with Higgins threatening to have Taylor shot.

The flashpoint occurred when Higgins, after losing a frame, insisted on taking Taylor's turn, which was against the event's rules. A fuming Higgins confronted Taylor with the chilling words: "The next time you go back home I'm going to have you shot."

This alarming confrontation was witnessed by reporters and quickly became a major story. Reflecting on the row and their overall rapport in 2004 with the as Higgins fought cancer before his death in 2010, Taylor said: "There was some nastiness between us then, I can't deny that.

"But I've got nothing but good feelings for Alex now - and I wish him all the best in his battle against cancer. The ill-feeling we once had has long gone."