Gods of Snooker, Sunday, 21.00, BBC4

In among the humbug surrounding the European Super League, the worst bit was undoubtedly the main mover behind the whole thing at Real Madrid saying it had to happen because otherwise football will be dead in three years. That was quite something for those who can remember the mid-eighties when it did genuinely feel like football was on its deathbed, and the biggest sport in Britain was undoubtedly snooker. Both the Beeb and ITV saturated their schedules with the game, and audiences watched in their millions, culminating in that famous post-midnight encounter in 1985, while pundits would regularly compare the hooligan footballers with the well-dressed, polite snooker stars – although there was plenty going on away from the table. This series aims to trace those remarkable years on the green baize, kicking off with the story of the man who did more than most to bring the rather sedate game kicking and screaming to public attention, Alex Higgins.