John Virgo

Early professional career (1976–1978)

Virgo turned professional in 1976, at a time when players such as Ray Reardon, John Spencer and Eddie Charlton were at the forefront of the sport. Although he had just turned 30 upon turning pro, he was still among the youngest players on the circuit at the time. In 1977 Virgo reached the semi finals of the UK Championship losing to eventual winner Patsy Fagan.

UK Champion and Top 10 player (1979–1990)

His snooker-playing fortunes peaked in 1979 when he reached the semi-final of the World Championship, and went on to win the 1979 UK Championship (though this was not a ranking event at the time). En route to the final Virgo beat Tony Meo, Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. In the final he overcame the reigning world champion Terry Griffiths despite being controversially docked two frames because of a miscommunication regarding the start time of the next session of play. He reached the Top 10 in the world rankings the following season. In 1986 Virgo reached the semi finals of the British Open losing 9-4 to Willie Thorne. Virgo, ending the 1989–1990 season as world number 14, dropped out of the top 16 next season.

Later career and retirement (1991–1995)

In 1993 Virgo entered the qualifying stages of the Grand Prix and the UK Championship but failed to qualify for the main events, losing both times in round seven. Virgo retired from professional play in 1995.

Career as exhibition player and TV commentator

Virgo, as part of his exhibition performances, had long performed trick shots and comedic impressions of other snooker players. During the 1981 World Championship, he performed some of his impressions, including Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon. He repeated this act in further World Championships, usually after semi-finals ended earlier than expected.

He is now a TV snooker commentator who works primarily during the BBC's coverage of ranking events. From 1991 to 2002, Virgo was co-presenter of the snooker-based TV game show Big Break with Jim Davidson. During each show, Virgo participated in the "trick shots" segment, where a competitor who had been ousted from the main quiz would try to copy a complicated snooker shot performed by Virgo in order to win a prize.

Virgo is well-known for shouting "ooh my teeth are itchy" or "where's the cueball going?"and "ooh! He must have a bruised tooth" during his commentaries if a player plays a shot in such a way that the cueball gets in any sort of proximity to a pocket.

Other activities

Virgo's tribute book to the late Alex Higgins, Let Me Tell You About Alex, was published in February 2011 and described as "explosive". In April 2012, his book Amazing Snooker Trick Shots was published.

In 2012 Virgo featured in Nicholas Gleaves' debut radio play Sunk who guides a young man in his dream of becoming a snooker champion while battling to avoid a life of crime. This was broadcast on BBC Radio 4

Virgo has recently worked with a pool and snooker table company called Liberty Games to create a web-based series of trick shot videos known as the Trick Shot Academy.

In 2014 Virgo released a trick shot app, John Virgo's Snooker Trick Shots, available on Apple and Android devices. It has Virgo performing 45 trick shots and contains diagrams and video clips for each. It also has Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins performing three trick shots including 'Higgins Goes Bananas'.

Virgo is currently embarking on a new venture, opening a new Vegan cafe in his home city of Salford. Virgo's Vegan Cafe, with help from fellow snooker player and friend Peter Ebdon.

Personal life

John Virgo lives in Cobham Surrey. He has two children, a son Gary from his first marriage and a daughter Brook Leah from his second marriage. He separated from his second wife, Avril, in 1991, after 18 years together. In 2009, he married Rosie Ries, then deputy managing director at John Blake Publishing. Virgo was once gunged on Noel's House Party. Virgo is a fan of the football club Manchester United F.C.. In 1996 he appeared as a celebrity contestant on the Saturday night BBC light entertainment show Full Swing, alongside John Lodge from The Moody Blues and former Tottenham goalkeeper Pat Jennings; he did not make the final.