Dennis Taylor, the snooker legend best known for his dramatic 1985 World Championship victory over Steve Davis, has led a life as eventful off the table as on it. Now 77, the Northern Irishman remains a fixture on BBC snooker broadcasts, thanks to his distinctive spectacles and commentary voice.
Taylor has five children from two marriages. He separated from his first wife, Patricia, in 1993 after 23 years of marriage, a split he attributed partly to the pressure following his world title win. He remarried in 2001 to Louise, with whom he has two children, Amber and Cameron.
In recent years, Taylor faced the prospect of being dropped from BBC coverage alongside fellow former player John Virgo. However, a viewer backlash prompted the broadcaster to reverse its decision. Ex-professional Joe Perry praised the duo's experience, saying, 'They might miss a few tricks with some shots that some boys play today but they do know their stuff.'
Virgo died unexpectedly in early 2026 at age 79, still active in snooker broadcasting. During this year's World Championship, a moment's applause honoured him. Taylor, speaking at Virgo's memorial service in Sheffield, revealed he had sought permission from Virgo's family to use his late friend's catchphrases in his commentary. 'John wasn't only loved by snooker fans around the world,' Taylor said, noting Virgo's work on Big Break and in pantomime.
