Snooker wildman Alex Higgins had three prostitutes sent to his dressing room while filming at BBC studios, it is claimed.
The Hurricane was filming for Pot Black at Pebble Mill in Birmingham when the “call girls” turned up as his guests.
The show’s director Jim Dumighan told a new documentary: “On one of the recording nights three young ladies showed up at reception and said they were Alex’s guests.
“Let’s say they represented a well-known Birmingham escort agency, or at least that’s what they told me. You don’t expect to be confronted with situations like that. It was a little tricky.”
Higgins’ alleged exploits are not the first involving a BBC star linked to sex workers.
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Ex-Grandstand presenter Frank Bough was fired by the Beeb in 1988 after it emerged he had taken cocaine at sex parties involving prostitutes.
And Angus Deayton left Have I Got News For You in 2002 following reports of cocaine and hookers.
Belfast-born Higgins, who died aged 61 in July 2010, won the world championship twice in 1972 and 1982. He is considered one of the sport’s most gifted ever players.
But he led a tumultuous life off the table blighted by alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling and violence, before being ravaged by throat cancer in his final days.
Higgins upset BBC bosses with his antics on TV tournament Pot Black, which also included him swearing after fluffing a shot.
Mr Dumighan, who was director of the show from 1969 until 1977, said: “It’s been suggested he was red-carded and we didn’t have him back. I don’t recall that at all.
“People close to him made it clear that he wasn’t going to play, which is a great shame because he had a lot of talent.”
Speaking on new BBC documentary Gods of Snooker, the show boss added: “I don’t think Pot Black was his forte. The certain things we asked of the players like where to stand and so on and so forth.
“I think he was irked by that. He didn’t seem to go along with it at all.”
Pundit John Virgo said: “He played in Pot Black, he upset everybody and they didn’t want him in it again.
“In those days if you didn’t toe the line you were out.”
The BBC declined to comment.
