Snookering you tonight

As the UK Championship nears its conclusion, The Scrutineer gives the lowdown on the BBC's snooker team. 

Hazel Irvine
Irvine is a brilliant presenter. You can tell all of her colleagues respect her, and she portrays a genuine enthusiasm for snooker. The perfect anchor for the sedate coverage, she has an in-depth knowledge of the game, rarely makes mistakes, and is female, which makes her one of the BBC's biggest assets. She's got the job for as long as she wants it.

Rishi Persad
Still making his way in the presenter's industry, Persad is the face of the highlights and late-night shows. Straight from the mould that shapes 21st century BBC anchors, he is smooth on camera and enthuasiastic about his job. He hasn't got the level of interaction with his colleagues that Irvine has, but Persad reads and links well. The more serious part of a humourous team, and it works well.

John Parrott
A favourite with the fans, Parrott gained legendary television status through being a long-serving team captain on sports quiz show 'A Question of Sport'. Equally comfortable on the pundit's sofa as he is in the commentary box, he is an extremely likeable character and is the person the majority of the audience most relate to. He has a great sense of humour, loves to rib his colleagues and doesn't take his job too seriously. That doesn't detract from his excellent insight, however. An indispensable member of the team.

Steve Davis
Many older fans remember Davis more for his incredible achievements on the baize, but since having moved from the arena to the studio, he has gained as near as a snooker pundit can get to a 'cult status'. A dry wit paired with as astute brain, his popularity has risen dramatically over the past few years as he shed the 'dour' tag that carried over from his playing days. He has a great rapport with Parrott as well, which makes those filler moments between matches good fun.

Dennis Taylor
Taylor's gentle commentary has become synonymous with the sport. A voice and style perfect for the trade, he may not provide as much tactical analysis as some of his colleagues, but his warmth and humour make up for it. A key ingredient in the coverage's success.

John Virgo
Another hero from the behind the mic, Virgo's sayings ("Where's the cueball going??") and impersonations have made him a household name in sports commentary. He has an infectious enthusiasm for the game - you feel he would commentate forever if he had to. His stock with fans rose after his appearances alongside Jim Davidson on 'Big Break', and he remains a staple part of every tournament for the BBC.

Willie Thorne
The man with the shiniest head in the world. Thorne is very popular with viewers despite his often prickly (excuse the pun) attitude during commentary. He tends to over-analyse at times, and can go through stages of relentless criticism. If you put that aside, Thorne is a thinker and often spots things the others miss. He rubs along brilliantly with his fellow commentators, though, and would be thoroughly missed if he wasn't there.

Ken Doherty
Still making his way in the media, Doherty is an assured presence on-air whose understanding of the modern game and relationships with today's players provide a different but justifiable angle on the coverage. He seems to have settled in quickly to his role, and enjoys a joke as much as a serious debate, which is imperative for the output to work. He has earned his status as 'one of the team'.