RIP Willie, you were a good man and a true inspiration to the sport.

Rest in peace Willie, by far the best commentator snooker had.

The BBC seems to always find a way for the public to despise them, and dropping WT was another pathetic decision. The best commentator who says it how it is and like he says he knows exactly what shot the players need to play throughout a break.

Just heard that Willie has passed away. Very sad news. R.I.P. Mr Thorn you were a great character for sure, been watching you on the box since the late seventies.

Clive Everton , Willie Thorne, and for those who remember Jack Karnehm, all the very best commentary men. I'd rather have a tooth pulled than listen to Peter Ebdon . RiP Willie , i watched you play once live , thank you for all your happy memories in snooker.

He is probably my favourite commentator. He is enthusiastic, is rarely bias, and is always fair to the players. Coverage on the BBC is poorer without him. I like Doherty as a pundit, but as a commentator Willie Thorne is miles ahead.

It was disgraceful how the bbc treated Clive Everton, let alone WT.

R.I.P to a great snooker player, an even better snooker commentator and more importantly a great chap.

Great bloke,, met him at Halifax snooker club thirty odd years ago,, still a top ambassador for the sport on and off the table.

Big fan of WT. It's a shame the beeb dropped him

I've met Willie in person in Hull at a Case chairty events night, even played snooker loopy of which he stars in the singing, he's a really decent, warm loving guy, his clothes were amazing, best clothes i've ever seen on anyone, that guy has class.

Rip Willi remember you so well from the 80s when was great you were a legend.

It was one of the most entertaining snooker commentators ever, he and Virgo together were/are totally awesome. Classics like the "Watford" Gap and the other seldom used snooker terms he coined, just made it even better. For me, in some ways, Willie is a bit like the Jimi Hill of Snooker. In his day, Willie was probably the best player in the world (in practice), and I guess along with the lack of big tournament success and gambling problems, it just created a bit of an egocentric monster. The sheer amount of energy that Willie puts into being "right " about everything is just staggering. I really miss him, the BBC should definitely bring him back. I spent many an afternoon doubled over in laughter watching the snooker with my uncle (another huge Willie fan).

true words from the best microphone voice we had in snooker. Rest in Peace.

Ya know what, I think he was one of if not the best commentators, he was professional yet not boring. Same as Dennis Taylor. But I'm afraid Virgo is annoying and yet none of them will be remembered like Ted Lowe is

RIP willie. Many a day my late gran would sit and watch the snooker while giggling at your commentary. Will be missed by many a fan

A great commentator with impeccable delivery. RIP Willie.

Absolute legend! Definitely one of the best if not the best snooker commentator.

Hope eurosport take him on or itv

Meet WT on the cruise ship Aurora last April, just a nice guy.

A real elite level commentator, very on point and fluent but natural, great snooker mind

Nov 2019 still miss Willy!

Snooker coverage on the BBC is so minimal now, it WOULD be great if Thorne (and Virgo) gigged for Eurosport so we heard more of them. Joe "'ee's been soooo unfortunate" Johnson is only "soooo"-so. Foulds is good.

Willie Thorne - The great legend and my personal favorite of all my personal favorites

Willie is a legend, The BBC are such two faced, I have seen much worse things said and done, put Willie back in the box comentating

Willie Thorne with John Virgo is the best commentator combo by far

Along with Clive Everton top of the tree on snooker commentary

Willie was absolutely right. RIP.

defo 1 of best y havent eurosport took jim on

We love u willie the best commentator ever! Answers on a postcard 😂😎

As I watched, I was wondering how long it would take him to mention his club in Leicester hahaha! What a legend! Miss you, Willie. RIP

Big Willie style.

RIP mate. Always liked you.

thorne and virgo in the commentary box ,is the stuff of legend

RIP MR Thorne, legend

Willie Thorne, Dennis Taylor and John Virgo. Cant beat that trio.

Leicester has a very interesting dialect as it's right on the north/south short/long vowel boundary. Fascinating stuff.

WT is a really good commentator, they should bring him back.

Yes love willy great bloke

Willie and JV without doubt the greatest snooker commentators ever unlike some of the others (no disrespect) actually bore us and they weren't bad players either and if they were both on the same match they actually made that match great. And we won't ever have that luxury anymore. So sad.

I wondered where he was these days I think he was one of the best commentators

Miss Willi like I missed Clive Everton when they dropped him. Murphy and Ebdon is a joke

If they introduce a shot clock I'm finished watching snooker period snooker is art and a player should take as long as he needs to play a shot within a minute or so, you can't rush art Willie sorry man.

R. I. P WILLIE

Mr 147 R.I.P

hope you come back.....

R,I,P Willie Thorne .

I saw Willie Thorne at Paddy Power in Derby city centre in 2012. Absolutely hurling pound coins in to that slot machine he was 🎰

In fairness

I honestly thought he was out for medical or family reasons and I was waiting for him to come back. I reckon Eurosport should take him because they show more snooker then BBC anyway.

Hands down the best snooker commentator can’t understand why the bbc dropped him ridiculous

Rip Willie You was spot on The snooker population loved you for your honesty and your brilliant personality BBC hang your sad head in shame

Nothing lasts forever, his commentating lasted longer than his playing career. The younger snooker fans will not even remember or possibly even seen him play. Commentary needs refreshing every now and then . 35 year’s commentating isn’t a bad run.

For me Willie is the best commentator

I miss WT, and his yellas. Eurosport should hire him.

RIP WILLIE ❤️

Willie spoke his mind upset a lot of people ..

top class guy is willie.

Hahaha, digging out Peter Ebdon a fair bit! :)

Willie was a top commentator bring him back

Who cares if he did say a swear word? People jump on anything on social media.....

R I P matey great bloke sadly missed by many sleep tight

RIP 🙏 Willie

I feel sorry they got rid of thorne he's a brilliant commentator.

In fairness Willey should be back commentating with the BBC

in fairness

Legend

ye,i agree, bring him back,dump ebdon

Excellent news, can they get rid of Virgo and tailor next please.

The Great WT.

rip........ the great wt

RIP Willie Thorne. Needed to look him up to hear his voice again 🙏

well he looks healthy and talkative why he died so early ....

I cAn listen to this legend all day long such a big loss in the game RIP

He reminds me of Hercule Poirot.

Jack Karnehm - John Pullman

One of very best BBC turned him over 🙏❤️🙏

Diversity quotas are the nail the coffin for quality content

Virgo Thorne taylor Everton the golden 4 ball any 2 of that 4 together were different class , what the fuck were the BBC thinking, to be fair McManus is brilliant also but hes the only one who stepped up to the mark

Clive Everton is by far the best. Foulds, McManus, Joe Johnson, Dave Hendon and Hendry are all good. The BBC team of Taylor, Parrott, Virgo and Davis are crap. They don't stop talking rubbish the whole way through a frame.

Went to watch wiggy one evening years ago in malvern .willie was there wiggy was shit but willie was class 3 ton breaks .

Yeah its true most of the players are like robots now. You have to be rooting for someone in a sport to make it interesting but when its just dull bloke vs dull bloke it does get a bit boring.

RIP Willie

Easily the best commentator, gone off snooker since they cut Willie off. Even better when hes with John as they compliment each other. Got to now put up with Hendry, McManus and Doherty.

Willie Thorne is the best commentator

if he could play as good as he talks , he would be world champion 25 times /

In fairness, a great commentator but never follow his racing tips in fairness

What happened to his hair?

Ŕip died same as my dad with luckemia

Careless

Rip

Accidental partridge

He was a BRILLIANT commentator. RIP Willie Thorne. Awesome chap.

In fairness commentary isn't as top drawer without WT.

In my opinion the best commentator there is BBC knobheads

He certainly has a high opinion of himself but I think they were right to get rid of him. He talks way too much, over analyses everything and contrary to what he says here, calls a lot of shots wrongly. Good commentary is an art form which Willie unfortunately does not possess. Take a look at Jack Karnehm to hear real class commentary. He had technical knowledge and was great at bringing out the drama as was Ted Lowe. Also they both knew when to shut up. More recently I think Stephen Hendry is good. Also Ken Doherty and Dennis Taylor (when he’s not doing his stepladder jokes)

whos your daddy Scott Waites

Delighted to see the back of him. Ego, rushed speech and cliche. That's all you get from him.

Willie was a brilliant snooker commentator. Only Clive Everton is better. I was gutted when Thorne died. He had his problems with gambling but was a loveable man. A real character and part of snookers furniture. He will be missed.

Glad he's gone. Just talked far too much. The great Richie Benaud got the reputation of being sport's best commentator because he knew when to speak and when to keep quiet.