BBC’s voice of snooker, who has died in Spain at the age of 79, was introduced to the former prime minister by his friend Jim Davidson

Snooker great John Virgo has died at the age of 79, World Snooker Tour has announced

John Virgo, who co-presented TV show Big Break and was a popular BBC commentator for decades, has died.

John Virgo was an excellent snooker player, a hugely popular TV figure, and one of the great voices of his beloved sport.

BBC’s voice of snooker, who has died in Spain at the age of 79, was introduced to the former prime minister by his friend Jim Davidson

‘I can’t overstate how much Big Break transformed my life,’ he said. ‘Before that I was in a black hole, wondering where my future lay’