BBC TV snooker commentator Willie Thorne says that although the skill levels in the sport are higher than ever, there are no characters any more.

Speaking after an afternoon exhibition at The Clubhouse In Cue Gardens at Odsal Top yesterday, the 49-year-old said: "The best thing about snooker is that few years ago it was Steve Davis and the rest and then it was Stephen Hendry and the rest, but now there are four or five players who could win each tournament and there are another eight or nine who will occasionally win a tournament.

"And the standard of the top four - Mark Williams, Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins - is higher than it has ever been."

However, the 1985 Mercantile Credit Classic champion added: "But there are no characters any more - not like in my day when players would entertain you as well as play snooker. It is just a way to earn a living now."

Former world No 7 Thorne, who was the main guest at last night's Yorkshire Executive Sporting Club's boxing dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Bradford, hasn't played a tournament for about three years.

He said: "The last one was the World Senior Masters in London in 2000, which I won, and it is a pity that the senior circuit cannot find a sponsor because we had a marvellous weekend.

"There was Cliff Thorburn, John Spencer, Dennis Taylor, Joe Johnson, Ray Reardon, Tony Knowles, and now players like Steve Davis and Jimmy White would be eligible too."

Thorne, who much prefers playing golf and after-dinner speaking these days to playing snooker, was a late replacement for White, who was ill. Eleven-year-old Josh Shipley from Bradford is pictured lining up a shot against Thorne during their game.