World Snooker Championship star lets John Virgo know what he thinks with BBC comments

Wales Online

21-05-2025

World Snooker Championship star lets John Virgo know what he thinks with BBC comments
Neil Robertson made an honest admission about BBC's snooker commentator Jon Virgo after working with him and doing his own stint as a pundit
Neil Robertson revealed his honest thoughts on John Virgo and the BBC
(Image: YouTube/Stephen Hendry Cue Tips )
Snooker star Neil Robertson hailed John Virgo and the rest of the BBC for the work they do in the commentary box. Robertson, 43, is a previous world champion who is still playing at the highest level today.
However, he has occasionally stepped into the gantry to voice his thoughts on all things snooker. Up there, he is joined by 1979 UK Championship winner Virgo, who has entrenched himself as one of the voices of the sport.
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Despite his successful career as a snooker player, Virgo is likely better known for his role as a BBC commentator, having begun his career on the microphone in 1991, where he was a co-presenter of the Big Break programme. Looking back at his own brief experience of working with Virgo, Robertson had plenty of good things to say about him.
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Speaking on the Stephen Hendry Cue Tips podcast, the Australian said: "I was doing some commentary and punditry work at the World Championships last year.
"You realise just how good some of those guys are in the commentary box. I thought Virgo was just absolutely amazing. The timing and the delivery of everything he is saying."
Hendry, who has also done plenty of commentary work with Virgo, could not agree with his former opponent more. The seven-time World Snooker Championship winner said: " The thing is, you and I, will sort of talk technically and say what is happening and everything, but they bring the excitement.'
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As well as his analysis and delivery on the microphone, Virgo is also known for his catchphrase "Where's the cueball going" which he says when the white looks like it is heading for a pocket.
Virgo is a popular member of the BBC snooker team
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At one stage, it looked like snooker punters were not going to be listening to him anymore. Virgo said he was going to be leaving the BBC after the 2022/23 season, citing the broadcaster's desire for new younger voices.
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When the news was first revealed, he told the Telegraph: "I wouldn't have been like this 30 years ago, I would have been fighting my corner. But I've realised – and it's taken me a long time to realise it – not to get caught up in something you have no control of.
'I can't have any bad feelings. Maybe it's a working-class attitude I've been brought up with but there's b******s all I can do about it, so why get bothered?
The BBC's decision to keep Virgo brought relief to a lot of snooker fans
(Image: Getty Images )
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"I'm not going to go round on my hands and knees begging for a job. I'm past that. So I'll just get on with what I'm doing, enjoy it and treasure every moment. I understand that you get over a certain age and they want to try something different."
However, the BBC U-turned on their decision and decided to keep Virgo in the commentary box. While speaking on the BBC podcast 'Snookered', Virgo revealed their change of heart and said: "Well from what I've heard recently that's not going to happen. I spoke to one of the producers and I said 'Well you know it'll be my last year…' and he said 'no no no, we're not going to do that now. We're going to stay as we are for the foreseeable future'.' Which was fantastic."
He added: "I'd have missed that terribly you know. Just going there. So for the foreseeable future, now whether that's this year, next year and that'll be it? So that was great, it was music to my ears."