RICHARD OSMAN has sparked a hostile online debate – after declaring Stephen Hendry among an elite list.
The Pointless host named the snooker legend among the world’s four “coolest” people.
Hendry is one of the snooker’s most successful ever players, winning his first world title aged 21 in 1990.
The Scot won a total of 36 ranking titles – but was never known for his exuberance on or off the baize.
That doesn’t appear to be a problem for Osman, who joined journalist Marina Hyde on their podcast The Rest Is Entertainment.
The pair discussed “cool” celebrities – and Osman brought up The King of the Crucible.
He said: “I’ve got the name Stephen Hendry written down here.”
Hyde immediately replied: “You haven’t, have you?!”
Osman went on: “He’s cool because he’s completely different to how you think he’s going to be.
“He comes across different to how you’d expect on TV.”
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But Hyde was having none of it, later writing on X: “I remain STUNNED at Richard’s suggestions of who is cool, and by extension how he defines cool (or rather, doesn’t).
“The fact that the words “Stephen Hendry” were anywhere near this conversation is abysmal.”
One listener laughed in response: “I’m mostly on Richard’s side but totally with you on Hendry- No!!”
Another said: “Yup. You are completely right. Richard is confusing being ‘a great guy/girl who has nailed life’ with cool.”
And a third added: “It was a great episode. Frankly, I’m more with you on this. Hendry! Goodness me.”
While a fourth countered: “Now Jimmy White would have been on that list.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
Hendry, 56, retired from professional snooker for a second time last year after suffering from a persistent wrist problem.
He has since worked as a pundit for the BBC – but was unexpectedly absent for the Welsh Open earlier this month.
Hendry admits he has been left in the dark over his snub for the tournament in Llandudno.
He discussed his absence in the latest episode of his Snooker Club podcast with pal Mark Watson.
The pair made light of the situation as they joked about Hendry’s “demands.”
Hendy first said: “I don’t do the BBC’s Welsh Open, I don’t know why I don’t get the call.”
Watson laughed: “Your demands are enormous. You don’t just go to North Wales for anyone.”
