John Virgo lost his home as addiction gripped snooker icon amid failed marriages

BBC snooker commentator John Virgo has died aged 79

Iconic snooker commentator John Virgo once had his home repossessed after his gambling addiction and failed marriages. Virgo, who was a much-loved part of the BBC’s snooker coverage for over 30 years, died aged 79 on Wednesday.

The Salford-born broadcaster passed away in Spain, where he lived, having commentated for the BBC on the Masters just last month. Snooker Legends, a promotions company run by Jason Francis, released a statement confirming the 1979 UK Championship winner’s death, saying: “Heartbreaking to share the news that we’ve lost the great ‘JV’ John Virgo this morning, he passed away in Spain.

“Rosie (his wife) and Brooke-Leah would like everyone to know. Our hearts go out to them both, Gary and the grandchildren. JV was doing what he loved to do right up until the end, entertaining everyone.”

Virgo had announced in the past he would be delivering his final commentary alongside Dennis Taylor at the end of the 2022/23 season. However, the duo were retained by the BBC “for the foreseeable future,” much to the delight of snooker fans across the nation.

His own playing career yielded four professional titles, including the 1979 UK Championship, the 1980 Bombay International and the 1984 Professional Snooker League. He maintained his place in the sport’s top 16 for seven consecutive seasons and made it to the final of both the 1980 Champion of Champions and the 1984 Australian Masters, before calling time on his 18-year professional career in 1994.

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Virgo went on to establish a successful media career following his retirement, having landed a new position as co-presenter of the BBC show Big Break three years before hanging up his cue. The show, presented by comedian Jim Davidson with Virgo appearing as referee, became a huge success, running for 11 years and drawing nearly 14 million viewers at its peak. It also opened further doors for Virgo, who landed book deals, made numerous pantomime appearances and even launched his own line of waistcoats.

However, behind the scenes, Virgo’s life was in turmoil, with the snooker star struggling to deal with a gambling problem. As his tournament winnings declined, he started betting excessively, squandering £10,000 on horse racing in just a fortnight during the height of his addiction.

Across six years during the 1980s, he borrowed more than £200,000 against his mortgage in order to fund the addiction and “keep up the pretence that [he] was successful.” It eventually resulted in his three-bedroom Surrey home being repossessed, with Virgo returning the keys to his mortgage lender.

“It was a vicious circle,” Virgo admitted. “I was doing commentary for the BBC and had exhibition work, but if you’re not winning you are not earning as much. And when you’re seen as a successful sportsman, people assume you’re earning a good living.

“There was pressure on me to have the newest car, a more expensive holiday. It was all about keeping up appearances. When the results weren’t coming on the snooker table, I tried to supplement things by gambling on horses even more. I went through a period when I was addicted to gambling.

“It was a compulsion that I struggled to get to grips with. By 1990, it was in danger of ruining my life. I was borrowing against the mortgage just to keep up the pretence that I was successful. Looking back, I see it was crazy. I think a lot of players may have had issues with gambling. You are brought up in that environment – hustling in the snooker clubs to earn a few quid and, if there was no one to play, you’d go in the bookies.”

Explaining how he eventually conquered the addiction, he said: “I stopped when I realised I was living beyond my means. I rarely bet these days. I did back the Grand National winner though.” Virgo’s struggle with his addiction unfolded alongside two failed marriages, from which he has a son, Gary, and a daughter, Brook-Leah.

He found romance once more with publishing executive Rosie Ries, a mutual friend he’d known for 20 years, and the pair wed in 2009. “A mate tried to set us up years ago but then his girlfriend said she wouldn’t be interested in me,” Virgo explained.

“I was so frightened of a knock-back, I didn’t ask her for out for 22 years. By then I’d lived on my own for five years and I needed that time to re-centre myself. But eventually we went on a date. I used my wit, charm and repartee on her and, blow me down, two months later we got engaged.”