Dennis Taylor Delivers Emotional Tribute to Snooker Legend John Virgo
The snooker community continues to mourn the profound loss of John Virgo, the beloved commentator and former champion who passed away earlier this month at the age of 79. During the BBC's coverage of the Welsh Open on Monday, his close friend and fellow snooker icon Dennis Taylor offered a deeply moving and heartfelt tribute that resonated across the sporting world.
A Partnership Forged Over Five Decades
Dennis Taylor, speaking with evident emotion, reflected on a friendship and professional partnership that spanned more than fifty years. "John Trevor Virgo. What a showman, what a commentator and what an entertainer. He had it all," Taylor stated, capturing the essence of the man known to millions. Their careers ran parallel, both learning their trade in the commentary box with a shared passion for bringing the game to life for viewers at home.
Virgo first rose to prominence as a player, famously clinching the UK Championship title in 1979. He then transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting, becoming the unequivocal voice of snooker for roughly four decades. He was a mainstay of the BBC's snooker coverage and a cherished host of the hit game show Big Break, where his partnership with Taylor truly flourished.
Memorable Moments in the Commentary Box
Taylor recalled their unique approach to commentary, which mirrored Virgo's charismatic personality. "John's attitude was similar to mine: 'Let's sit in the commentary box and chat as if you were sitting in somebody's lounge watching a game of snooker with them'," he explained. This relaxed, conversational style endeared them to audiences and defined an era of snooker broadcasting.
Together, they provided the iconic soundtrack to some of the sport's greatest moments, including Ronnie O'Sullivan's record-breaking maximum break at the 1997 World Snooker Championship. Beyond the commentary booth, their chemistry made them in-demand entertainers on the exhibition circuit.
- Their act was built on humour, trick shots, and Virgo's legendary impersonations. Taylor fondly recalled Virgo's spot-on impression of Ray Reardon and the comedic routine where Virgo would don oversized novelty glasses and chalk the wrong end of Taylor's cue.
- "We also became two of the best entertainers in the game. That's why we got so much work at exhibitions," Taylor noted, highlighting their shared joy in performance.
A Final Farewell and a Lasting Legacy
John Virgo passed away on February 4th in Spain after suffering a ruptured aorta. In his tribute, Taylor shared a poignant personal memory from their final years working together on the Black Ball Final theatre shows with Steve Davis.
"I've got a wonderful photograph they took at the last show, John's very last photograph. I will treasure that photograph forever," Taylor said, his voice heavy with emotion. He emphasized Virgo's own perspective on their remarkable journey: "A couple of working-class boys making a living knocking little round balls about with a piece of wood. We've had a wonderful life. John had a wonderful, wonderful life."
Concluding his tribute, Taylor echoed the famous sign-off from their Big Break days, a phrase delivered by host Jim Davidson. "As Jim Davidson used to say at the end of every Big Break show, 'Say Goodnight, JV.' Goodnight, JV." It was a simple, powerful farewell to a man who will be sadly missed by the entire snooker fraternity, in the commentary box, and daily by his oldest friends.
