John Virgo's daughter contacted comedian Jim Davidson on the day of the snooker legend's death, as tributes poured in from across the sporting world. Virgo passed away at the age of 79 at his home in Spain, surrounded by family, just weeks after commentating at the Masters in London.
Davidson, who co-hosted the BBC programme 'Big Break' with Virgo for over a decade, shared a heartfelt video on his YouTube channel. He revealed that Virgo's daughter, Brooke-Leah, had called him that morning. 'Everybody is in shock,' Davidson said. 'He died at 5 o'clock this morning.'
The pair formed an unlikely friendship while working together on the popular snooker game show, which attracted nearly 14 million viewers at its peak in the 1990s. Despite their contrasting personalities—Virgo once described them as 'a crafty Conservative comedian and a dour northern socialist'—they remained close after the show ended in 2002.
Davidson recalled their first meeting at a racecourse and said he insisted on Virgo being part of 'Big Break'. 'He didn't even audition, he just turned up. We got on like a house on fire,' Davidson said. The comedian added that Virgo was 'a great bloke, a great snooker player, and a great dad'.
Virgo, a former professional snooker player and long-time BBC commentator, was widely regarded as the voice of the sport. His death has stunned the snooker community, with many paying tribute to his contribution to the game.
