Dennis Taylor's emotional tribute to John Virgo on Welsh Open coverage after star's death
Late snooker legend John Virgo has been honoured by his dear friend Dennis Taylor during the BBC's Welsh Open coverage.
Dennis Taylor has delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and snooker great John Virgo. The sporting legend died aged 79 earlier this month.
Virgo established his reputation initially as a player, capturing the 1979 UK Championship crown, before transitioning into broadcasting. He became renowned and cherished as a cornerstone of the BBC's snooker programming and for his appearance on the popular game show Big Break. Fellow legend Taylor featured with Virgo on the show and the pair also experienced numerous unforgettable occasions in the commentary booth. They delivered the narrative as Ronnie O'Sullivan compiled the quickest maximum break in the sport's history at the 1997 World Snooker Championship.
Virgo, who for approximately four decades represented the unmistakable voice of snooker, passed away on February 4 in Spain following a ruptured aorta. His close friend Taylor has now offered his tribute on the BBC during their Welsh Open broadcast on Monday.
"John Trevor Virgo. What a showman, what a commentator and what an entertainer. He had it all," said Taylor. "I've known John for over 50 years. Our careers sort of ran alongside one another. We learned our trade in the commentary box and it was something we were both passionate about.
"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' We also became two of the best entertainers in the game. That's why we got so much work at exhibitions, because of the jokes and the trick shots and because of John and the impersonations.
"His Ray Reardon used to be terrific. I was easy to do. John used to go over and get the big novelty pair of glasses, stick them on, grab the cue and squint at the cue and turn it upside down and chalk the butt end of the cue.
"When we'd do the shows together, we'd get asked, 'What's your best achievement?' John's answer was, 'Getting a phone call from the BBC and getting invited to do Big Break.' 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.
"John, myself and Steve Davis did the black ball final shows for the last nine years at theatres in the UK. I've got a wonderful photograph they took at the last show, John's very last photograph.
"I will treasure that photograph forever. He will be sadly missed by the whole of the snooker fraternity, sadly missed in the commentary box and I miss him daily. As Jim Davidson used to say at the end of every Big Break show, 'Say Goodnight, JV.'
"Goodnight, JV."
