By Elliott West
“I want to illuminate the darkness Jimmy dragged himself through as he lost much more than those famous six World Championship finals”.
Steven Waddington
Introduction
Jimmy White has been a dominant force in snooker for decades. A winner of ten ranking titles, the man they call ‘The Whirlwind’, plays the game how it should be played, fast, furious and with flair. Now 61, White still holds a tour card and is also busy playing on the World Seniors tour and in his work as a pundit for Eurosport’s snooker coverage. So it is good to hear that a new drama is in the offing about this legend of the game. The actor Steven Waddington who starred as Police Superintendent Smith in the 2014 film The Imitation Game, has written a screenplay and will direct the drama. Aneurin Barnard who was in the film Dunkirk will play Jimmy and Ray Winstone is also lined up for the film. It will concentrate on and condense the colourful life of White and base it on one night when Jimmy is forced to confront his darker side.
Produced by Black Water Pictures and Lipsync Productions, filming will start this April in London. A film that looks at the genius of Jimmy White as a snooker player and how his inner demons would tear him apart. A player who reached six World Championship finals but lost all of them. Someone who blew away £35,000 on a crack cocaine addiction
A Must
This is a script that couldn’t be turned down. Aneurin and Ray jumped at the chance when they were offered the roles and there was no question that they would say no. Jimmy is someone that they have both admired for years. A poignant and funny script that is waiting to be told. Both are perfect for the roles because they come from the same ilk. A story that will mix the shady days of London snooker clubs in South London and the success that would ensue. A play that idolised Alex Higgins and aimed to produce his brilliance on a snooker table. The zip, long pots and breaks that came from nothing.
Jimmy remains a rock star of the sport and joins Alex and Ronnie as players who put bums on seats and sell-out venues. White might be slightly older but he has learnt from his life mistakes. He now leads a clean life and is a devoted father. A player who still believes he can win the World Championship and practices more now than he ever did in his pomp. The Whirlwind still kicks up a storm and is captivating to watch in an exhibition or on a practice table as I can vouch having met him and spent time with him on numerous occasions.
