Cue the music, Jimmy

By Chris Charles

Forget Stephen Hendry, snooker star Jimmy White is now gunning for Robbie Williams with the release of his debut single, Minted.

TOP OF THE POTS Ten loopy snooker songs 1 Simply The Rest 2 Pocket Man 3 I Pot The Sheriff 4 Cue To Me Are Everything 5 Sitting On The Dock Of The Baize 6 I Don't Wanna Chalk About It 7 The Red's Too Big Without You 8 You'll Never Baulk Alone 9 Plant Get Used To Losing You 10 Pool If You Think It's Over

White, runner-up in the World Championship on six occasions, is hoping to throw off his bridesmaid tag by clinching the number one spot on Sunday.

But he told this website he was not seriously expecting to become the next Frank Sinatra with the dance track.

"You don't really think I'm looking for a pop career do you?" he said.

"We're having a bit of a laugh - although we are hoping to get to number one, because all the profits are going to Children in Need."

Minted was written for Jimmy by Ian Dury and the Blockheads drummer Steve Monti and features the Whirlwind singing over a retro dance beat.

Sample lyrics include: "Money's too tight to mention/Money's so loose I don't need a pension/Freedom for all is a nice idea/But I'm going for a curry and ten pints of beer."

White missed out on a starring role in Chas 'n' Dave's Snooker Loopy hit, which reached the top 10 in 1986, and at one stage he thought he would find himself snookered again with Minted.

Chas 'n' Dave go snooker loopier

"Steve wrote it a few years ago for me," he explained. "The idea was that we'd release it when I won the World Championship, but of course that hasn't happened - yet!

"But I won the World Poker Championship this year so we decided to put it out now instead."

Jimmy on the cover of Minted

To be fair, for a man who's never sung before, it's not a bad effort.

And he's already had the seal of approval from his kids and showbiz pals, including Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

"My daughters like it and my son keeps singing along to it, so it can't be that bad," Jimmy chuckled.

"Ronnie's heard it as well and he doesn't think it's too bad either.

"I was trying to get hold of him to see if he wants to be in the video, but I think he's a bit tied up with the Stones at the moment! I'll still give Robbie Williams a run for his money, though!"