Snooker fans will be able to hear the tones of well known pundit Willie Thorne once again this week after a long time away from the commentary box.

The former snooker professional will be doing stints as commentator and punditry for BBC Wales as part of their coverage for this week’s Welsh Open.

Fans have not heard from Thorne for a while after he announced last year that he had been dropped from the punditry team of BBC’s coverage for the UK Championship and more recently The Masters.

But Thorne will be able to give his views from the microphone once again at the Welsh Open – one of the most established tournaments in the calendar.

The 63-year-old played 26 seasons as a professional and won one major ranking event  – The Mercentile Credit Classic in 1985. He also was finalist in the 1985 UK Championship and the 1986 British Open. He also made a 147 maximum in the 1987 UK Championship and his highest ranking position was 7th in the world.

Last year Thorne said he was left speechless after it was announced he was not needed for BBC’s coverage. He tweeted: “After over 30 years, the BBC have decided not to use me. I was simply told by the BBC that they wanted to change tack … I am almost speechless.”

And in November when the UK Championship got underway, Thorne told his 7,000+ followers how much he was missing being in York for the event. He tweeted: “The UK starts today it will be the first one I’ve missed for over 40 years as a player and commentator gutted not to be there.”

But Thorne will be happier this week and he has clearly expressed his delight at being back in the snooker world along with his close friend and fellow commentator John Virgo. This is what he tweeted last week: