Crucible semi-finalist Wilson made his TV debut at the age of nine
The former factory worker appeared on the junior version of the popular show Big Break.
When Crucible semi-finalist Gary Wilson made his first television appearance in 1995, Stephen Hendry still reigned supreme and Findus Crispy Pancakes were an ailing staple as opposed to a full-blown case of food nostalgia.
The then nine-year-old Wilson was one of a handful of future professionals picked to star on ‘Big Break: Stars of the Future’, a junior version of the hugely successful Jim Davidson-fronted programme which pulled in 14 million viewers at its peak.
“I suppose I was a bit of a child prodigy,” said Wilson, who continued his improbable journey from the production line of a local Findus factory to a place in the last four of the World Championships with victory over Ali Carter on Wednesday.
“Being on TV at that age I didn’t know what was going on – I just wanted to get on the table and play. It was all bright lights, massive crowds and a bit much at the time.
“When I got back to school the teacher made a big fuss and showed the class the newspaper – it was pretty embarrassing. I got a lot of stick.”
Instead of maintaining his early trajectory, Wilson, having initially turned professional, endured six years off the main tour in which he took a series of jobs including as a taxi driver and a barman, before ending up at the then Findus factory in Longbenton, close to his home.
“Everybody loves the Crispy Pancakes – I’d be making them if you had any of them,” added Wilson. “Sometimes you would be in the minus-18 freezer packing them up.
“It was horrible but at the same time, it was good memories with the people I used to work with. I had some good mates who worked there and I miss a bit of that.”
“I used to have a few Newcastle footballers in my taxi,” added Wilson.
“The odd person from Geordie Shore, and the lead singer of Def Leppard – I took him to pick his Porsche up at Yarm train station.
“Just tell us straight away – oh, by the way, I was in Def Leppard, did you know? I would have gone, ‘aye great, how much are you giving me?’ I got about an extra couple of quid, I think.”