Here's a new broadcast from me, focusing on television coverage of the Masters.

Which commentating favourite will be on the BBC team after missing the UK Championship? Which big name will be absent from the line-up? And what are the TNT plans for the week?

I also read out your predictions for the tournament winner and take a wee look at other sporting matters. Your thoughts on the Masters as it progresses will of course be most welcome - tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Enjoy the tournament everyone

Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe is back on the air, for the first broadcast of 2026.

I take a look at the Masters schedule, which kicks off with Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize and includes some mouthwatering matches, including Neil Robertson taking on Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Radio Snooker shall return again soon with a look at television coverage of this year's tournament at Alexandra Palace.

I hope you all had a smashing Christmas, and very best wishes for 2026.

Hello-ho-ho-ho. If it helps, you can think of me as the snooker world's Father Christmas, dishing out gifts to his flock.

To be serious, it's time to say goodbye for 2025 and I do so with this special broadcast on Radio Snooker, which includes an audio reading of my Sporting Life column reviewing the year and your correspondence. Plus some philosophy.

Thank you very much for tuning in throughout the last twelve months. I'll be back in the new year to look ahead to the Masters, including a guide to television coverage of the famous old event.

To all my listeners, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/nick-metcalfe-snooker-column-review-of-2025-as-zhao-xintong-becomes-chinas-first-world-champion/229393

Good day everyone, and compliments of the season to you.

I catch up with your correspondence in this latest Points of View broadcast. Loads of ground covered here, including television coverage of snooker, the ranking event status of the Shoot Out and players withdrawing from events.

Your views on any snooker matter are always welcome - tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com - and I'll be back next week with my Christmas Special.

Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe is back on the air and I'm talking about the telly. The old Roger Mellie.

There's talk from me about the BBC and TNT Sports coverage of the UK Championship, plus news of the new Channel 5 team for 2026.

I'll be recording my Christmas Special soon to reflect on the year in snooker. I'd very much like your correspondence to be part of that, so if you have any reflections on the year or indeed thoughts on any snooker issues, please do contact me.

You can tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Here's my commentary on the winning moments as Mark Selby wins his third UK title, beating Judd Trump 10-8 in the final in York.

Live commentary from me on the climax of the first Triple Crown event of the season, the UK Championship final between Mark Selby and Judd Trump at York's Barbican Centre.

I was delighted to see one of the great voices of sport, Hazel Irvine, at the UK Championship in York and I asked her about Ronnie O'Sullivan as the legendary seven times world champion turns 50.

If you'd like to have your say on anything you've heard on Radio Snooker, please do contact me - tweet @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

I speak to my great friend and colleague Phil Haigh about Ronnie O'Sullivan, in the week the seven times world champion turns 50.

What has he meant to snooker over the years? Is Phil surprised he's still going on? And do we need to worry about a future in the sport without O'Sullivan?

If you'd like to have your say on this or anything you hear on the service, please do contact me - tweet @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe moves into its second year and for the first time, seven times world champion is on the service.

Following his early exit from the UK Championship, I asked O'Sullivan here in York if he had any big ambitions left.

My rivals said they'd 'give it three months' - yet here we are on the first birthday of Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe.

It's been quite a madcap year for this service and I've flicked through the broadcasts on my phone to relive the memories.

Thank you so much for listening over the last 12 months. I really do appreciate you being there.

If you'd be so kind as to leave a good star rating or a review on your preferred outlet - Apple is particularly influential if you listen on there - then I would be most grateful.

I'll return soon with special interviews live from the UK Championship in York.

In my life loved you all X

I asked John Higgins about Stephen Maguire, who is having a very decent season, and has qualified for the main stages of the UK Championship.

Your snooker views are always most welcome - tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

We're all looking forward to the main stages of the UK Championship in York, one of the great events in the game.

Here's a new broadcast from me, looking ahead to television coverage of the tournament. There are plenty of titbits for you here.

Any feedback is always welcome, on this or any snooker matter. Tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Here's another interesting line from Stephen Hendry following my chat with the seven times world champion at the Crucible Cup event in Reading.

We've had 11 different winners from 11 tournaments this season. Variety is the spice of life and all that, but Hendry says he prefers it when one player is dominating.

What are your thoughts on this? No right or wrong answers on this one, all down to personal preference. Tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Short, sweet and to the point. Not every broadcast on Radio Snooker needs to be War and Peace.

Thank you so much for telling me some more about your favourite players growing up. Here's Part Two of my Points of View broadcast on the subject.

Coming soon, I'll be in York to bring you special live interviews from the UK Championship. If you'd like to have your say on any snooker matter, please do tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Neil Robertson has spoken exclusively to me for Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe.

The former world champion says the pockets have been too big at the International Championship, pointing out: 'When balls are missed they still go in.'

Robertson has also said he believes pockets have been 'very good' this season and overall progress is being made.

If you'd like to comment on this - or anything you hear on Radio Snooker - please do tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

Here's another exclusive for you on Radio Snooker with Nick Metcalfe. 

Neil Robertson tells me the pockets at the International Championship in Nanjing have been "very disappointing" and says the table fitters "cut them wrong".

If you'd like to have your say to this - or anything you hear on Radio Snooker - please do tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

I am delighted to be joined again on Radio Snooker by Kathi Hartinger from the Total Clearance podcast. Kathi and I analyse the Steve Dawson interview, reacting to what the World Snooker Tour chairman had to say.

There's talk about snooker in Saudi Arabia, comparison with darts, the new China Open, loss of events in mainland Europe, the new Professional Snooker Players Association, the Matchroom documentary, the Crucible and much more besides.

Your reaction to what you've heard here would be most welcome. Please do tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com

I asked you a few weeks ago who your favourite player or players were growing up. It's now time to share them with the listeners as Radio Snooker comes to you live from Amsterdam.

I may well return to this topic on a future occasion, so please do feel free to keep them coming - tweet me @RadioSnooker or email radiosnooker@mail.com