Snooker legend John Virgo dies aged 79
They remember the laugh first. The mischief in his voice, the warmth in his stories, the way he could make a routine safety shot feel like theatre. John Virgo’s journey from top-10 player and UK champion to beloved Big Break star and BBC commentator turned him into more than a snooker figure; he became a companion in living rooms across decades.
Colleagues speak of a fiercely loyal friend who never stopped entertaining, right up to his final days in Spain. Mark Selby, Joe Perry, Chris Wakelin and countless others described a gentleman, a giant character, a man who made work feel like joy. Fans mourn the silence where his commentary once sat, that familiar tone guiding them through late-night frames. The trophies will tarnish, but the voice, the humour, the humanity of “JV” will echo every time a cue strikes cloth.