John Virgo dead: BBC legend dies at 79 as tributes pour in for voice of snooker | Other | Sport
Snooker icon John Virgo has died at the age of 79 (Image: Getty)
Snooker legend John Virgo has died at the age of 79, it has been confirmed. A member of the sport’s elite during the 1970s and 1980s, he won four professional titles including the UK Championship, Bombay International and Professional Snooker League. He also reached the semi-finals of the World Championship and British Open and was runner-up at the Champion of Champions in 1980.
Virgo retired from professional snooker in 1994 and went on to have a successful career in broadcasting, primarily working for the BBC. He also co-presented the snooker-themed game show Big Break between 1991 and 2002. Affectionately known as ‘JV’ among fans, he is a member of the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame and is widely regarded as an icon of the sport.
Jason Francis, chairman of World Seniors Snooker, announced the news of Virgo’s death via his Snooker Legends account on X (formerly Twitter).
He wrote: “Heartbreaking to share the news that we’ve lost the great ‘JV’ John Virgo this morning, he passed away in Spain. Rosie and Brooke-Leah would like everyone to know. Our hearts go out to them both, Gary and the grandchildren.
“JV was doing what he loved to do right up until the end, entertaining everyone. Such an important person in my life but in our sport in general.
“An amazingly loyal friend to me, and someone you felt was sat with you at the match when he was commentating on TV.
“Hard to take this one… one great person who touched so many lives and loved the game. We will never forget you bud. RIP JV.”
In a statement, the World Snooker Tour added: “Everyone at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo, aged 79. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, JV.”
Tributes have been flooding in on social media, with snooker announcer Phil Seymour also paying homage to Virgo in a post of his own.
Virgo became known as the voice of snooker through his commentary work (Image: Getty)
He said: “Rest in peace John Virgo. A genuinely lovely man, always funny, with a knack of always making people smile. A sad loss. RIP.”
Many fans will know Virgo as the voice of snooker, given his long and successful commentary career with the BBC.
In an interview with Stephen Hendry two years ago, he reflected on his journey to the booth after hanging up his cue in the 1990s.
“I’ll be honest with you, I think I only got the job because I was on the board,” said Virgo. “I can’t remember who, but someone said to me: ‘Good commentary’, and all that.
“I said: ‘Who would have believed that someone from Salford could commentate for the BBC?’. And he said: ‘Oh, accents don’t mean anything now, no matter where you come from’.
“I said: ‘Oh, fair comment. Well, if you ever hear someone from Wolverhampton reading the nine o’clock news, give me a ring’.
“I feel blessed that I’ve managed to create this little niche and not have to lose my accent. They gave me a three-day trial and Nick Hunter was a producer at the time.
“He said: ‘Are you enjoying it?’. I said: ‘Yeah, I’m having a good time’. He said: ‘Well, we’re enjoying what you’re doing’.”
