Hazel Irvine

Name: Hazel Irvine

DOB: May 26, 1965

Nationality: Scottish

Snooker Presenter Since: 2001

Career Highlights: Working as a presenter for the BBC at the summer Olympics in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2005 & 2008, Presenting the World Snooker Championship (as well as other tournaments), from 2002-2008, Becoming the youngest-ever presenter of Grandstand in 1997, Regularly presenting Ski Sunday for the BBC

 

Snooker Career

Following the retirement of the late David Vine back in 2000, the BBC sought to freshen up their coverage of snooker in Britain and the following year decided that both Hazel Irvine and Ray Stubbs would be the new faces of the sport.

Despite having no previous experience of covering snooker, Hazel has thrown herself into the sport and over the last few years has become a popular figure with both the players and the viewers.

She has largely been an ever-present at the events, though she did miss the 2009 World Championship following the birth of a baby girl, Gina in the weeks leading up to the tournament.

Other Roles

Hazel began her broadcasting career working on the radio before moving over to Scottish Television to work as a sports reporter. Soon enough though she was recruited by the BBC and following a stint as presenter of its Sportscene programme in Scotland, was chosen to anchor Grandstand on a Saturday afternoons, becoming the youngest-ever person to do so.

Other roles both before and during her time working on snooker include presenting both the Winter and Summer Olympics for the BBC on several occasions, hosting their Ski Sunday programme and also reporting on the London marathon.