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Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
World Snooker Championship star shows true colours with John Virgo comments
BBC star John Virgo is snooker royalty as a result of his successful playing career in the 1970s and 80s and his status as being one of the voices of the sport Snooker ace Neil Robertson has praised John Virgo and the BBC commentary team for their stellar work behind the microphone. The 43-year-old former world champion, who still competes at the top level, occasionally shares his insights from the commentary box. Among those he shares the gantry with is 1979 UK Championship winner Virgo, a familiar voice in snooker broadcasting. Despite his successful playing career, Virgo is perhaps best known for his role as a commentator with the BBC commentator, an organisation he joined in 1991 when he co-presented Big Break. At one stage, it looked like Virgo was going to be replaced by the BBC, after he claimed they were on the hunt for younger voices after the 2022/23 snooker campaign. Reflecting on his own stint alongside Virgo, Robertson had nothing but praise. Speaking on Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips podcast, the Australian said: "I was doing some commentary and punditry work at the World Championships last year. "You realise just how good some of those guys are in the commentary box. I thought Virgo was just absolutely amazing. The timing and the delivery of everything he is saying." Hendry, a seven-time World Snooker Championship winner who has also shared the commentary booth with Virgo, wholeheartedly agreed. He added: "The thing is, you and I, will sort of talk technically and say what is happening and everything, but they bring the excitement." Renowned for his captivating commentary and distinctive delivery, Virgo is famous for his catchphrase: "Where's the cueball going," often exclaimed when the white ball teeters towards a pocket. There was a time when it seemed fans would miss out on Virgo's voiceover skills. The commentator had announced the BBC were planning to replace him after the 2022/23 season, as the broadcaster looked to freshen things up with younger talent. After hearing the news in 2022, he told the Telegraph: "I wouldn't have been like this 30 years ago, I would have been fighting my corner. But I've realised – and it's taken me a long time to realise it – not to get caught up in something you have no control of. "I can't have any bad feelings. Maybe it's a working-class attitude I've been brought up with but there's b******s all I can do about it, so why get bothered? "I'm not going to go round on my hands and knees begging for a job. I'm past that. So I'll just get on with what I'm doing, enjoy it and treasure every moment. I understand that you get over a certain age and they want to try something different." However, the BBC reversed their decision and chose to retain Virgo in the commentary box. Speaking on the BBC podcast 'Snookered', Virgo shared their change of mind, saying: "I spoke to one of the producers and I said, 'Well you know it'll be my last year...' and he said 'No no no, we're not going to do that now. We're going to stay as we are for the foreseeable future'. "Which was fantastic. I'd have missed that terribly you know. Just going there. So for the foreseeable future, now whether that's this year, next year and that'll be it? So that was great, it was music to my ears."
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
World Snooker Championship star lets John Virgo know what he thinks with BBC comments
World Snooker Championship star lets John Virgo know what he thinks with BBC comments Neil Robertson made an honest admission about BBC's snooker commentator Jon Virgo after working with him and doing his own stint as a pundit Neil Robertson revealed his honest thoughts on John Virgo and the BBC (Image: YouTube/Stephen Hendry Cue Tips ) Snooker star Neil Robertson hailed John Virgo and the rest of the BBC for the work they do in the commentary box. Robertson, 43, is a previous world champion who is still playing at the highest level today. However, he has occasionally stepped into the gantry to voice his thoughts on all things snooker. Up there, he is joined by 1979 UK Championship winner Virgo, who has entrenched himself as one of the voices of the sport. Despite his successful career as a snooker player, Virgo is likely better known for his role as a BBC commentator, having begun his career on the microphone in 1991, where he was a co-presenter of the Big Break programme. Looking back at his own brief experience of working with Virgo, Robertson had plenty of good things to say about him. Speaking on the Stephen Hendry Cue Tips podcast, the Australian said: "I was doing some commentary and punditry work at the World Championships last year. "You realise just how good some of those guys are in the commentary box. I thought Virgo was just absolutely amazing. The timing and the delivery of everything he is saying." Hendry, who has also done plenty of commentary work with Virgo, could not agree with his former opponent more. The seven-time World Snooker Championship winner said: " The thing is, you and I, will sort of talk technically and say what is happening and everything, but they bring the excitement.' Article continues below As well as his analysis and delivery on the microphone, Virgo is also known for his catchphrase "Where's the cueball going" which he says when the white looks like it is heading for a pocket. Virgo is a popular member of the BBC snooker team (Image:) At one stage, it looked like snooker punters were not going to be listening to him anymore. Virgo said he was going to be leaving the BBC after the 2022/23 season, citing the broadcaster's desire for new younger voices. When the news was first revealed, he told the Telegraph: "I wouldn't have been like this 30 years ago, I would have been fighting my corner. But I've realised – and it's taken me a long time to realise it – not to get caught up in something you have no control of. 'I can't have any bad feelings. Maybe it's a working-class attitude I've been brought up with but there's b******s all I can do about it, so why get bothered? The BBC's decision to keep Virgo brought relief to a lot of snooker fans (Image: Getty Images ) Article continues below "I'm not going to go round on my hands and knees begging for a job. I'm past that. So I'll just get on with what I'm doing, enjoy it and treasure every moment. I understand that you get over a certain age and they want to try something different." However, the BBC U-turned on their decision and decided to keep Virgo in the commentary box. While speaking on the BBC podcast 'Snookered', Virgo revealed their change of heart and said: "Well from what I've heard recently that's not going to happen. I spoke to one of the producers and I said 'Well you know it'll be my last year…' and he said 'no no no, we're not going to do that now. We're going to stay as we are for the foreseeable future'.' Which was fantastic." He added: "I'd have missed that terribly you know. Just going there. So for the foreseeable future, now whether that's this year, next year and that'll be it? So that was great, it was music to my ears."
Edinburgh Live
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC John Virgo's true feelings on Jim Davidson as comedian claims he was 'cancelled'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info BBC snooker pundit John Virgo has shared insights into his bond with comedian Jim Davidson, following Davidson's comments about being 'cancelled'. The pair became an iconic team on television throughout the 90s, co-hosting the hit snooker game show Big Break. With Davidson at the helm and Virgo donning the referee's gloves, the show paired members of the public with professional snooker players in a bid to win prizes, drawing in audiences of nearly 14 million at its peak. As Virgo, who is now 79, was transitioning from professional snooker to a career in broadcasting, he initially doubted the potential success of Big Break. His reservations were quickly dispelled as the show soared in popularity. READ MORE - BBC The One Show guest Sheila Hancock doesn't hold back as she makes 'scathing remark' READ MORE - ITV Amanda Holden sets record straight on 'wild rumour' about ex Les Dennis Speaking to the Daily Express, Virgo reminisced: "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.", reports Wales Online. "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 exclaimed. "We ran for 10 years and peaked at nearly 14million viewers. It was remarkable." The programme also marked the beginning of a surprising friendship between Virgo and Davidson, which nobody could have predicted. "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 shared. "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." After the show concluded its run in 2002, the two amigos still shared the spotlight, performing together in pantomime for eight straight years. Nonetheless, since Big Break wrapped up, Davidson has been embroiled in controversies following a slew of contentious remarks and episodes, often incorporating offensive jokes aimed at women, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community in his comedy routines. He later insisted that he was unjustly "cancelled" by the BBC, claiming on GB News that he received £1 million from the broadcaster to "go away" after his heyday as a game show host. Virgo has disclosed his viewpoint on these developments, conceding that Davidson's absence from television is "understandable" yet describing it as a "waste of talent". He revealed that although they don't converse often, there's "a warmth that I don't get with many people" when they do meet. "Jim is a comic genius and yet he can't appear on television, because he has a black mark against his name," the commentator shared with The Telegraph. "It's understandable. I just feel it's a waste of a talent."
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
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.'
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
John Virgo makes feelings clear on Jim Davidson after Big Break star 'cancelled'
John Virgo makes feelings clear on Jim Davidson after Big Break star 'cancelled' The World Snooker Championship commentator fronted the popular BBC show alongside Davidson in the 1990s Davidson and Virgo no longer speak regularly but remain friends (Image: BBC ) BBC snooker commentator John Virgo has opened up on his friendship with his former Big Break co-host Jim Davidson, after the comedian claimed he was 'cancelled'. The unlikely presenting duo fronted the 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, and proved a huge hit with viewing figures peaking at almost 14 million people. It came 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 told the Daily Express: "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. "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. Article continues below '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, as 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 £1 million 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. Article continues below "Jim is a comic genius and yet he can't appear on television, because he has a black mark against his name," the commentator told The Telegraph. "It's understandable. I just feel it's a waste of a talent.'
