Former snooker champion and broadcaster dies aged 79
Watch the latest from ITV News - Virgo, who won the UK Championship in 1979, enjoyed a long and storied career but was perhaps best known for his work as a broadcaster.
www.itv.comDirect answer: John Virgo died in February 2026 at the age of 79, with multiple outlets reporting his passing and tributes from the snooker community. He was a former UK Championship winner and a long-time BBC snooker commentator.
Details and quick context:
- Confirmation of death: Several reputable outlets reported Virgo’s death in early February 2026 and noted the announcement came from World Snooker/WORLD SENIORS Snooker circles . These reports identified his age as 79 and placed his passing in Spain, where he had been living, with tributes from peers and organizations in the snooker world .
- Career highlights: Virgo won the 1979 UK Championship and the 1980 Bombay International, among other titles, and became a well-known broadcaster and entertaining pundit on BBC snooker coverage, later famed for his quips and personality .
- Public reaction: Tributes described him as a “great character” and a loyal friend to colleagues, emphasizing his impact on the sport both as a player and as a broadcaster .
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of Virgo’s career milestones and a handful of notable tributes from the coverage, or summarize the public and industry reactions in a brief bullet list.