John Virgo had plans for giant celebration earlier than sudden demise says snooker’s Dennis Taylor
Dennis Taylor opened up on emotional memories of his late friend John Virgo, as ‘the voice of snooker’ is remembered ahead of the World Snooker Championship
John Virgo will be remembered through the World Snooker Championship(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Family and friends of the late, great John Virgo will congregate today at Sheffield Cathedral for a memorial service.
It’s set to be a poignant day for his friend of 50 years and fellow commentator, Dennis Taylor, who will be providing coverage for the World Snooker Championships, commencing this Saturday at the Sheffield Crucible. The tournament will be bittersweet for 77-year-old Dennis – the 1985 World Snooker Championship victor – without John, who tragically passed away from a ruptured aorta on February 4, aged 79.
He told The Mirror: “Everyone is going to miss his commentary when the snooker starts this weekend. I know I will. All his catchphrases like ‘where’s the cue ball going?’ will be missing. It is not going to be the same. Will I say any of John’s catchphrases? Nah. I used to use ‘where’s the cue ball going?’ But John made it his own. What a showman, what a commentator and what an entertainer he was. He had it all.”
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In addition to his personal loss, Dennis – returning to Sheffield for his 26th year of commentary duty for the BBC – will deeply miss John as a workmate. He recalls: “One of the greatest memories we shared in the commentary box was watching Ronnie O’Sullivan in 1997, when he made that famous 147 maximum break in five minutes and eight seconds. That was one of the greatest moments in the history of snooker.”
From 1991 to 2002 John, who was residing in Mijas Costa in Spain with his wife Rosie Ries when he passed away, co-presented the BBC1 gameshow Big Break alongside Jim Davidson. Dennis remembers his celebrity impersonations, explaining: “John loved to poke fun at me on Big Break. I was easy to do, as John used to get a big oversized pair of glasses and squint at the cue and turn it upside down and chalk the butt end. People used to ask him what his best achievement was. I always thought it was winning the 1979 UK Championship, but he always said it was getting the call from the BBC to do Big Break.”
John’s passing has heightened the need for more colourful commentators to join the sport, according to Dennis. He explains: “Some of the newer ones [commentators] have got to learn now. It is a bit dull, the game. You have got to make that excitement for the people at home. The young ones don’t come up with these catchphrases like we have. When you have done what we have done and entertained people at holiday camps over the years, you know you have a good idea of what to say.”
John passed away just days after joining him and fellow snooker legend, Steve Davis, on a UK tour to mark Dennis’ 1985 victory over Steve – known as the “black ball final.” Days afterwards, John’s wife, Rosie, sent him a text revealing the heartbreaking news. He explains: “We were with John just days before he died. He flew back to Spain on the Friday and I think we got the news the following Wednesday. It was less than a week.
“When I received the text from Rosie I sensed something was amiss before I even opened it. We perform the black ball shows to commemorate the 1985 final and have been doing them for the past nine years. We were touring across the country and John was eagerly anticipating returning to Spain. He was in excellent spirits and then, a few days later we received the news from Rosie. He had not been unwell and that is why it came as such a shock to all of us.”
John, who had an 18-year professional career, passed away after being rushed to hospital from his Spanish home following a sudden rupture of the aorta – just weeks after delivering expert commentary at the 2026 Masters. He was set to celebrate his 80th birthday on March 4. Northern Irishman Dennis, a father-of-two, who now resides in Llay, near Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife Louise Taylor, explains: “John was so looking forward to turning 80. I know Rosie and him were going to go to Madrid for four days.
“For his 80th, I probably would have bought him a new snooker cue. But he was not playing anymore as his neck was causing him a bit of trouble, so he could not perform the trick shots. When we staged the live shows, he used to arrange the trick shots and invite someone from the audience to attempt it, which was more entertaining.”
Today Dennis will see Rosie at Sheffield Cathedral for the memorial service, expected to attract 600 people, arranged by snooker legends Ken Doherty and Rob Walker. Dennis says: “The memorial will be a special occasion to remember John and his wife Rosie will be there. We recently had the inaugural John Virgo trophy in Ireland which was nice. And the memorial will be fantastic at the cathedral. Everyone will be there. It’s followed by the champions dinner in the evening, which only the champions can go to. We will drink a toast to John there.”
Commentary without John won’t be the same, says Dennis. He adds: “John and I made snooker entertaining, I guess. It is not easy to do and it takes many years learning what works. John and myself had the knack of doing that. John was a bit like me – the first time I went into the commentary box I always felt as if I was sitting in somebody’s lounge, chatting to them about what was happening.”
Dennis will also miss sharing a round of golf with his mate. He says: “Willie Thorne used to be my partner and we had more fun on the golf course than in the commentary box, believe it or not. We won’t have the challenge match this year, as John won’t be there, bless him. The fun we had on a few days off from Sheffield was unbelievable. What we said on the golf course stayed there!”
Speaking of their unique and lasting bond, Dennis says: “We were working class lads, earning a living by knocking around little round balls with a piece of wood. We became two of the best entertainers in the game and that’s why we got so much work at exhibitions, because of the jokes and the trick shots and impersonations. There were no rituals in the commentary box with John. You just picked up the mic and off you went. We had a wonderful life and John had a wonderful, wonderful life. He will be sorely missed by the entire snooker fraternity and in the commentary box. I miss him terribly. Goodnight JV.”
Coverage of the Halo World Snooker Championship begins on BBC2, Saturday at 10am, followed by extended coverage on BBC1 from 2pm.
