Out now: the autobiography of the legendary sports promoter, Barry Hearn.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

''I am the largest sports promoter in the world. I promote 11 sports to a global audience of billions of people every day of my life''

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A larger than life working class hero, Romford born and bred - always ready with the perfect soundbite - Barry Hearn was famously described as ''roguish but never a rogue''.

Hearn is credited with turning snooker into one of the biggest sports in Britain. He essentially turned a sport in which competitors wear bowties into a massive, globally televised event. Away from the table, his promotions empire casts its net over a dozen sports - from professional boxing to darts, fishing to ten-pin bowling - and his career spans four decades. He also previously owned Leyton Orient football club.

Packed with hilarious anecdotes from the golden age of snooker, and behind-the-scenes insight into boxing negotiations and darts bust-ups, Hearn's book is a joy to read from start to finish.