Snooker ace Willie is right on cue to help children's hospice (with audio slideshow)
Willie, known as the Homer Simpson of snooker because of his distinctive bald head, was at Derby's Bamfords auction house for a celebrity special of BBC's Cash in the Attic.
The 55-year-old raided his house to find sports memorabilia to go under the hammer for Rainbows children's hospice, including a snooker cue signed by some of the world's top players.
Among the names on it were seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry and Derby's own Nigel Bond – while a second cue was signed by fans' favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Willie, who gave 10 items for auction in total, has previously starred on Bargain Hunt to raise money for the hospice, of which he is a patron.
He said: "I'm a bit of a sucker for all these lovely programmes on television. When they asked me if I'd like to be on Celebrity Cash in the Attic, I was only too pleased to do it."
Willie said he would be going up on the lectern himself to "rabbit away" and auction the cue signed by O'Sullivan.
Alongside Willie yesterday was his wife, Jill, Cash in the Attic presenter and former I'm A Celebrity star Jennie Bond and antiques expert James Rylands.
Willie said he and his wife had to dig deep to find items to auction, as their house was quite modern, but had unearthed a Victorian tea caddy and a mahogany tray, which came from his grandmother.
Retired Rolls-Royce worker Keith Cooper, of Ilkeston, was at the Chequers Road auction house to sell a gold bracelet and bumped into the snooker star for the second time.
The 69-year-old said: "A few years back I was at a hotel in Jersey on holiday and Willie Thorne and Steve Davis were staying in the same place, because there was a tournament on.
"They came back to the hotel, posed for photographs and gave us signatures.
"Now he's here in Derby, it was a bit of a surprise to see him. He said I should have brought his signed picture to sell."
Steven Iredale, from Bamfords, said before yesterday's auction: "It's one of the biggest sales we've ever had."
Rainbows cares for children from across the East Midlands, including Derbyshire.
The Loughborough-based hospice is raising £4m for a new wing, with £3.7m already generated and building work under way. It is hoped the auction will add hundreds more to the total.
A date has not yet been set for the show to be broadcast.
BREAK TIME: Snooker legend Willie Thorne chats during a break in filming for Celebrity Cash in the Attic with, from left, wife Jill, presenter Jenny Bond, second right, and antiques expert James Rylands, right.
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