Jimmy White changes when Ronnie O’Sullivan is around says presenter | Other | Sport

Andy Goldstein has confessed that Jimmy White transforms in the presence of British snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan. Speaking to snooker great Stephen Hendry on his YouTube channel, the UK sports presenter shared revealing insights into his experience hosting with White and O’Sullivan.

Hendry asked Goldstein: “Obviously you present the Eurosport and in the studio you normally have Jimmy and Ronnie – what’s that like? I mean, I speak to Neil and he said it’s like a circus.” Goldstein responded with a humorous comparison, suggesting that working with the pair is akin to babysitting children.

He said: “It’s like being a babysitter every day for eight hours – I mean, listen, you know them better than I do but they’re totally different people when they’re together aren’t they?” He also noted the stark contrast in White’s demeanour when alongside O’Sullivan.

He went on: “They’re completely different. Jimmy, on his own, he’s quite quiet, quite funny, but when Ronnie’s there, he just goes to another level.” Hendry also took the opportunity to commend White’s punditry skills which have noticeably evolved, adding: “I watch some matches on the EuroSport and I think Jimmy’s actually quite good.

“In the beginning, I thought he was a bit like, you could almost tell he didn’t give a monkey’s, but now actually, I think he’s a good pundit,” reports the Mirror. Goldstein agreed, endorsing Jimmys abilities: “I think he’s a great pundit.”

Later in the segments, Goldstein shared a nostalgic moment from his childhood during a chat with snooker legend Hendry, recalling: “Since I was 10, I was a massive fan of Jimmy and I still remember the first time.” 

Goldstein continued: “The first time I met Jimmy he was playing in the Matchroom League in Croydon, right? And he was playing, I think, Cliff Thorburn and I would have been 10.

“And I ran down the stairs at the end of the match, big arena or whatever, I ran down the stairs as the match finished and I went up to him and I said ‘Can I have your towel?'” Revealing the cherished souvenir, he pulled out a towel from his bag and presented it, saying: “I swear to God this is true. That is Jimmy White’s Matchroom towel. I tell everyone wherever I go. How mad is that?”