Crucible qualifier Gary Wilson used to spotlight after Big Break appearance as a kid

CRUCIBLE qualifier Gary Wilson knows he will not be fazed by the semi-final spotlight — having made his TV debut aged nine.

The former factory worker and cabbie yesterday beat Ali Carter 13-9 to reach the last four of the .

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And it will be Wilson’s biggest TV appearance since he went on Big Break's Stars of the Future series back in 1995.

The Geordie, 33, smiled: “That obviously set me up well for the future!

“I was only nine years old and my feet were swinging off the chair.

“Being on TV at that age, I didn’t know what was going on.

“I just wanted to get on the table and play. All the bright lights and massive crowds were a bit much at the time.

“On my first appearance, I got through the first round and then got beaten in the Pocket Money round.

“I was on again in 1997 and 1998 but always went out at the same stage.

“The first series was a big one because the age limit was 16 and there were other players older than me, like Paul Hunter and Michael Holt, who were verging on turning pro at that time.

“By the third series I was getting a bit annoyed at not doing better - but it was a great experience for a kid.”

Big Break, which pulled in viewing figures of almost 14 million at its peak, was co-hosted by John Virgo, who is now commentating at the Crucible.

I was only nine years old and my feet were swinging off the chair.

Gary Wilson

And 1979 world semi-finalist Virgo admitted: “Of course I remember Gary on the show.

“You expect really young lads like that to be really nervous – but he wasn’t and didn’t look out of place.

“He was full of confidence and what has impressed me at the Crucible this year is that same quiet confidence.”

Wilson admits he was something of a “child prodigy”, having also won exhibition frames against Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White aged 12.

But after turning pro, poor form caused him to drop off the circuit in 2006.

And he got a job at the Findus frozen food factory, where he worked on the production of their popular crispy pancakes.

Wilson recalled: “Everybody loves the crispy pancakes. If you had any of them, it was me making them.

“You would have pancakes coming along the line, and you’d be folding them, next fold, next fold.

“It was monotonous - day in, day out, doing the same thing over and over.

“Sometimes I would even be in the minus-18 freezer packaging food up.

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“It was horrible but at the same time it was good memories with the people I used to work with. I miss a bit of that.”

Wilson, who is a huge Newcastle fan and would love to parade the World Championship trophy at St James’ Park, then left the pancake production line to become a taxi driver.

And he had a number of famous faces in the back of his cab, before returning to full-time snooker in 2013, with his only previous Crucible appearance being a first-round exit in 2017.

Wilson said: “I used to pick Newcastle footballers up from the training ground quite a bit. I remember taking Cheick Tiote and Hatem Ben Arfa.

“I also once had the lead singer of Def Leppard. I took him down to pick his Porsche up at Yarm train station.

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“I didn’t know who he was. I got about an extra two quid from him I think!”

Wilson has earned much more than that from his Crucible run - pocketing £100,000 for reaching the semi-final.

And he added: “I suppose it’s a life-changing amount of money but I try not to think about that.

“I remember being in situations where I was struggling for money and wondering what job I was going to do.

“I was in my early 20s and wondering where my life was going.

“I was desperate to get back on the tour and just scrape a living.

“So to go from that point to where I am now is absolutely amazing.

“I'm delighted to be in the one-table set-up. It's what you dream of when you start playing.

“I'm not really stressed about it. I'm just chilling out watching Gogglebox.”