John Virgo makes Jim Davidson feelings clear after Big Break host 'cancelled'
The World Snooker Championship commentator fronted the popular BBC show alongside controversial comedian and presenter Jim Davidson in the 1990s
John Virgo has opened up on his friendship with his former Big Break co-host Jim Davidson, after the comedian and presenter's claims that he was 'cancelled'.
The duo fronted the supremely-popular snooker-based programme for just over a decade in the 1990s, with Davidson presenting and Virgo starring as a referee. It saw contestants team up with professional players to compete in various snooker-related rounds in order to win prizes. It proved a huge hit with viewing figures reaching almost 14 million at its peak.
The show arrived as Virgo, now 79, was starting to wind down his snooker career and move into broadcasting, and he admits that he was sceptical about the show's chances of being successful when he first landed the gig. However, he was soon happily proven wrong.
He said: "All of a sudden, I get this phone call, 'Would you be interested in doing this TV show, a quiz show with snooker, with this comedian, Jim Davidson'.
"I'd met him once a few years previously, but I didn't really know him. It was funny because we got there and he didn't know much about snooker."
Speaking to the Daily Express, Virgo added: "In all honesty, after doing the first couple of shows, I was thinking, 'I don't see how this works'. Anyway, we did eight [episodes]. We took over the slot from A Question of Sport on a Tuesday night and the viewing figures were better! That shows you the popularity of snooker at the time.
"Then I got another phone call and they wanted us to go back into the studio to do another 18!," he added. "We ran for 10 years and peaked at nearly 14million viewers. It was remarkable."
The show was also the start of a close friendship between Virgo and Davidson, as unlikely as it initially seemed.
"It's a funny thing about life. He's your crafty Conservative comedian and I'm your dour northern socialist. How do you come up with that? But obviously the chemistry worked," Virgo added. "Although Jim didn't know much about snooker, what a funny man and a very generous man to work with.
"We really got on well. Besides, when you're in those positions, the most important thing is that the show works."
The pair's friendship continued after the show aired for the final time in 2002, and they did pantomime together for eight years. However, since Big Break ended, Davidson has come under fire for a series of controversial comments and incidents, making numerous offensive jokes about women, racial and ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community in his stand-up act.
He has gone on to claim he was unfairly "cancelled" by the BBC, alleging on GB News that he was paid £1million by the corporation to "go away" after his success as a presenter.
Virgo has since made his feelings clear on the matter, admitting that Davidson no longer being on TV is "understandable" but claiming it is also a "waste of talent". He added that the pair no longer speak regularly, but share "a warmth that I don't get with many people" whenever they cross paths.
"Jim is a comic genius and yet he can't appear on television, because he has a black mark against his name. It's understandable. I just feel it's a waste of a talent.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
EastEnders' Shane Ritchie's bid for David Jason to join soap
Appearing on The One Show, Ritchie, 61, who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC soap, spoke about EastEnders' award-winning streak at the British Soap Awards last week. The cast were presented the award for Best Soap by none other than Only Fools and Horses legend Sir David Jason – and it would appear that Ritchie would love to get him to become a Walford resident. Speaking on The One Show last night (June 11), Ritchie told hosts Alex Jones and Angellica Bell that he is 'trying' to get David Jason involved. "Well, we got presented the award by David Jason, and now this is between us," Richie joked with fellow guest, Marvel star Jeremy Renner, and the hosts. "Davis Jason, big famous actor, say nothing, I'm trying to get him into EastEnders," Richie continued. He jokingly turned to the camera and said: "Turn over, watch something else, you don't want to see this," before adding: "I'm trying to get him into it." When Bell asked him whether he had spoken to Jason about it, Richie said: "I don't know yet! I might take him out for a beer." Fans 'can't cope' with David Jason at the British Soap Awards It appears that Shane Ritchie would not be the only one who would love to see Sir David on the Square. Fans were delighted that the 85-year-old presented the soap award to the EastEnders cast, taking to social media to sing his praises. 'Witnessing the David Jason presenting the award for best soap and then EastEnders winning might be one of the most surreal things I have ever experienced,' one person said on X. 'Sir David Jason announcing EastEnders for Best Soap?! My worlds have collided, and I can't cope,' another added. Others tweeted: 'Dreaming that David Jason has joined #EastEnders' and 'David Jason would be brilliant in #EastEnders!" What has David Jason said about EastEnders? During The Only Fools and Horses Story – a TV special that aired in 2021 to mark the 40th anniversary of the sitcom – Sir David suggested how EastEnders' Queen Vic could have been a "meeting place" to set the scene for more humour, like The Nag's Head. Recommended reading: David said: "What John [Sullivan] tried to tune into was a huge mixture of like real people are. "They laugh, they cry. They take the mick out of each other. They go on trips together down the pub. "One of the great things I think John (Sullivan) did, which I'm very pleased to say and I'd wished they perhaps taken note at EastEnders, is that the pub was the central meeting place and it's full of very, very amusing characters." EastEnders airs on Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Zoe Ball joins forces with family for brand-new 'fascinating' series
Radio 2 star Zoe Ball could be fronting a brand-new factual series with a few of her family members in the near future BBC Radio 2 star Zoe Ball has been eyeing up a new role with a few of her family members for a brand-new 'fascinating and revealing' programme. Broadcaster and presenter Zoe, 54, has previously appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with her DJ son Woody Cook, so working with family isn't new to her. And now, it has been announced that Zoe and her son Woody will hopefully be joining her presenter father, Johnny Ball, on his new factual series about mathematics. The new show will be exploring the "history of maths" and will be based on the first six chapters of his book, Wonders Beyond Numbers. Speaking to The Sun, Johnny - who is hoping to convince TV bosses to commission the series - explained: "The material can be honed down to the essentials, so that anyone could present it in a light and transparent way. 'This is why I believe myself, Zoe and my grandson Woody could add all what each age group requires to make it a fascinating and revealing series.' Meanwhile, in early May, Zoe returned to radio just five months after quitting her beloved show. The radio DJ left her much-loved breakfast show last year, with her pal Scott Mills taking over, leaving her fans devastated by the shock departure. She had fronted her show for six years, but admitted it was time to "start a new chapter". Her decision came just months after her extended absence from the BBC during the summer following her mother's death. After bursting into tears on her final show, she made a comeback in the first week of May. Zoe returned with a bang on her new afternoon show as she played a few of her favourite songs and talked to the listeners. Introducing her new segment, she said: "Hello it's me, oh it's lovely to be back on a Saturday. "This is where it all began for me back when I used to sweep up and make the teas." One viewer was delighted with her return an wrote to her: "Great to have you back, Saturday afternoon is much better than having to wake up early." The radio presenter read a few messages from fans and said: "It is lovely to be here, thanks for all your messages." The BBC previously teased on their website that Zoe's new show will feature "the best songs and chat for a Saturday".
Glasgow Times
4 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Highly-rated BBC show loved by fans coming to an end
Boarders, which follows five underprivileged students from inner-city London who win scholarships to an elite boarding school, has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100%. The popular school programme made its debut last year and currently has two seasons available to watch on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. BBC comedy series Boarders to come to an end after three seasons According to The Sun, the third series of the show will be its last, seeing fans across the country left disappointed. The new series will see Jodie Campbell, Sekou Diaby, Aruna Jalloh, Myles Kamwendo, and Josh Tedeku reprise their roles. Discussing the show, writer, creator and executive producer Daniel Lawrence Taylor, said: 'Boarders has been a deeply personal project for me, and it's been incredible to see how audiences have connected with the characters. "From day one, I wanted to create something funny, honest, and proudly Black, "And in this final term, I hope to finish their story as they face their final year with greater challenges, deeper friendships and the looming question of life beyond school.' Studio Lambert Creative Director, Scripted Madeleine Sinclair says: 'Daniel's fearless and sharp writing, as well as standout performances from our cast have meant that audiences have truly embraced our characters and we cannot wait for everyone to see how their stories conclude – with humour, honesty, and a lot of heart." Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added that the show has been a "fun, sharp and timely addition to our screens". Recommended Reading: BBC viewers praise 'bloody brilliant' BBC comedy-drama series Boarders Discussing the show on IMDb, one viewer said: "This isn't just a good series, it's bloody brilliant. "I don't really watch many dramas on BBC but I was going through all my apps looking for something new to watch and found this. It has everything romance, drama, thrill and inclusivity." Another added: "Oh so far so good. I'm loving this, hope the next season comes out ASAP. At first I didn't think I was going to like this show but so far I am loving it. "We need more shows like this." A third dubbed it "a captivating series that will leave you yearning for more"
