John Virgo, the legendary snooker player and commentator, was honoured at the World Snooker Championships on Saturday, months after his death in February at the age of 79. Fellow snooker greats gathered at the Crucible for a ceremony, with close friend Steve Davis visibly emotional.
Virgo, known as 'The Voice of Snooker', enjoyed a successful playing career, winning the UK Championship in 1979 and three other professional titles. After retiring, he became a familiar fixture on BBC snooker coverage, building a second career as a broadcaster.
He also co-hosted the snooker-based quiz show Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson in the 1990s. The programme was a ratings hit, peaking at nearly 14 million viewers. Despite initial doubts, Virgo said the chemistry between the unlikely pairing worked, describing Davidson as 'a funny man and a very generous man to work with'.
However, since Big Break ended in 2002, Davidson has faced widespread criticism for offensive jokes about women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. The 72-year-old has claimed he was unfairly 'cancelled' by the BBC, alleging he was paid £1 million to leave the corporation.
Virgo made his position on Davidson's TV absence clear at the time, acknowledging that his former co-host no longer appeared on television. Virgo died in Spain from a ruptured aorta, with a statement from Snooker Legends confirming he passed away doing what he loved: entertaining everyone.
