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John Virgo's Life and Cause of Death as John Parrott Shares Why He Was Loved in Liverpool

  • On Monday, former professional snooker player John Virgo died unexpectedly aged 79 at his home in Mijas Costa, Spain, a family source said the cause was a ruptured aorta.
  • As a broadcaster, Virgo rose to prominence as the BBC's lead snooker commentator after retiring in 1994 and co-presented the 1990s gameshow Big Break with Jim Davidson, popularising 'Where's the cue ball going?'.
  • Fellow commentators and players led the tributes, with Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan praising John Virgo, while Jim Davidson called him a great character who brought joy to TV and commentary.
  • Friends and family will hold a service in Mijas Costa, about 20 minutes from Malaga, with a UK memorial planned and celebrations starting next week, organisers said.
  • Despite past struggles recounted in his 2017 autobiography Say Goodnight JV, Virgo remained active recently with BBC commentary and sell-out Black Ball tour shows.
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The Independent broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
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