**BBC Snooker Commentator John Virgo Reflects on Addiction, Loss and Renewal**
John Virgo is a name synonymous with snooker, known to millions as the witty, knowledgeable commentator whose voice has been a fixture on BBC broadcasts for more than three decades. As fans settle in for this year’s World Snooker Championship, Virgo, now 79, returns to the commentary box, continuing a career that has been as colourful off the table as it has on.
Just a couple of years ago, Virgo and fellow snooker icon Dennis Taylor were rumoured to be stepping away from their commentary duties at the end of the 2022/23 season. Those reports were soon put to rest, much to the relief of snooker enthusiasts, after the BBC decided to keep the pair on for the foreseeable future. Virgo himself revealed on the Snookered podcast that he was set to continue, saying, “We’re going to stay as we are for the foreseeable future, which was fantastic.”
Virgo’s accomplishments in snooker extend beyond the microphone. Born in Salford, he was an accomplished player in his own right, capturing four professional titles, most notably the 1979 UK Championship. He was part of the Top 16 for seven seasons and managed memorable finishes as runner-up at both the 1980 Champion of Champions and the 1984 Australian Masters. He retired after an 18-year professional career in 1994, but by then had already embarked on a parallel path as a television personality.
The BBC light entertainment show ‘Big Break’ became a defining chapter for Virgo. Copresenting alongside comedian Jim Davidson, Virgo was the show’s resident referee, injecting both adrenaline and humour into proceedings. The hit series ran for 11 years and, at its peak, pulled in close to 14 million viewers. This platform not only heightened Virgo’s public profile but also led to other opportunities, from book deals to pantomime performances and even a signature clothing line.
However, beneath the veneer of fame and fortune, Virgo was fighting personal demons. The 1980s brought a period of significant struggle, as he became engulfed in a gambling addiction. As tournament winnings dwindled, he turned increasingly to betting—particularly on horses—as a way of supplementing his income and maintaining a façade of prosperity. At the height of his addiction, he lost £10,000 over just two weeks and over six years borrowed more than £200,000 against his mortgage.
The consequences were stark. “It was a vicious circle,” Virgo reflected in an interview with the Mirror. “If you’re not winning, you are not earning as much. People assume you’re earning a good living, so there was pressure to keep up appearances… Gambling on horses became a compulsion that I struggled to get to grips with.” Eventually, mounting debts led to his Surrey home being repossessed, forcing Virgo to hand over the keys to his three-bedroom house.
Virgo’s candour about addiction offers insight into the pressures facing professional athletes, particularly in a sport where hustling, betting, and bravado are never far from the surface. His eventual decision to stop gambling, he said, came with the realisation that he was “living beyond [his] means”. Today, Virgo says he rarely places bets but admits, with characteristic humour, to backing the winner of the Grand National this year.
Personal turbulence also marked Virgo’s private life. His battle with addiction coincided with two failed marriages, but from those relationships he shares a son, Gary, and daughter, Brook-Leah. Despite setbacks, Virgo ultimately found renewed happiness, marrying publishing executive Rosie Ries in 2009 after a decades-long friendship. “By then I’d lived on my own for five years and needed that time to re-centre myself,” he shared. Describing their wedding as the “best day of my life,” Virgo speaks warmly about this new chapter.
Through professional triumph, personal despair, and eventual renewal, John Virgo’s journey reflects the complexities often hidden behind broadcast glamour. His openness about addiction offers hope and encouragement for others, while his enduring presence in the snooker world continues to delight viewers across the nation. As this year’s championship unfolds, the familiar sound of Virgo’s commentary serves as a reminder of both the sport’s traditions and the resilience of one of its most beloved voices.