John Virgo, the renowned snooker player, 1979 UK Champion, and beloved BBC commentator, passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 79 in Spain. World Snooker Tour confirmed his death, noting he is survived by his wife Rosie and children Gary and Brook-Leah. Tributes from the snooker world highlighted his enduring impact, both on and off the table, while family statements emphasized the personal side of his life.
Early Marriages and Challenges
Virgo was married three times throughout his life. His first two marriages ended in divorce amid personal and financial struggles, including a well-documented gambling addiction that led to significant losses, home repossession in the 1990s, and strained relationships.
His first wife was Avril Virgo, with whom he shared a long partnership reports vary, but they were together for around 18 years before separating in 1991 (with the divorce finalized in the early 2000s). The split was acrimonious, involving public disputes over maintenance payments and claims of support during his rise in snooker and television. From this marriage, Virgo had a son named Gary.
His second marriage also produced a daughter named Brook-Leah (often spelled Brook-Leah, Brooke-Leah, or Brook Leah). Details about this second wife are less publicly documented, but sources consistently attribute both children to his earlier marriages, with the second one following the end of his relationship with Avril.
These earlier periods were marked by turbulence, including the pressures of fame from co-hosting Big Break with Jim Davidson and commentary duties, which Virgo later reflected on with regret in interviews and his autobiography.
Lasting Happiness with Rosie Ries
In his later years, Virgo found stability and joy in his third marriage to Rosie Ries, a publishing executive (formerly deputy managing director at John Blake Publishing). The couple had known each other as friends for two decades before Virgo asked her out, he humorously admitted delaying due to fear of rejection after a previous setup fell through. They married in 2009 (some reports note 2010), and their relationship was described as “absolutely wonderful.”
Rosie became a key support in his retirement, helping him navigate health issues like a chronic neck condition. In 2020, the pair relocated to Spain’s Costa del Sol for a warmer climate to ease his pain, where he spent his final years. Recent tributes, including from World Seniors Snooker chairman Jason Francis, noted Rosie’s role in sharing the news of his passing: “Rosie (his wife) and Brook-Leah would like everyone to know. Our hearts go out to them both, Gary and the grandchildren.”
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Children and Grandchildren
John Virgo is survived by his two children: his son Gary, from his first marriage to Avril Virgo, who was reported to be around 47 years old in earlier accounts, and his daughter Brook-Leah (sometimes spelled Brooke-Leah), from his second marriage, who was noted to be approximately 32 in prior mentions. Family announcements and obituaries consistently extended heartfelt condolences to Gary, Brook-Leah, his third wife Rosie Ries, and his grandchildren, highlighting the strong and loving bonds he maintained with them in his later years, even after navigating significant personal challenges earlier in life.
Virgo’s family journey was one of profound personal growth, evolving from the difficulties of two divorces, financial struggles, and a past gambling addiction to a place of redemption and genuine contentment in his long and happy marriage to Rosie, as well as the meaningful time he spent with his children and grandchildren. While his enduring legacy in snooker as a 1979 UK Champion and beloved BBC commentator remains widely celebrated, tributes following his passing on February 4, 2026, also honored the devoted family man he became in his final decades. Rest in peace, JV.
John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction: A Struggle That Nearly Ruined His Life
John Virgo, the 1979 UK Snooker Champion and iconic BBC commentator who passed away on February 4, 2026, at age 79, spoke openly about his gambling addiction in interviews and his 2017 autobiography Say Goodnight, JV: My Autobiography. The problem intensified during the 1980s and early 1990s, as his competitive earnings from snooker tournaments declined after his peak years.
How John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction Started and Worsened in the 1980s?
As detailed in reports from The Mirror, Daily Mail, and Express, Virgo turned to heavy betting on horse racing to boost his income and preserve the image of success expected of a prominent sportsman. He described it as a “compulsion” he found hard to control, stating: “I went through a period when I was addicted to gambling. It was a compulsion that I struggled to get to grips with. By 1990, it was in danger of ruining my life.” At its worst, he lost £10,000 on horses in just two weeks. Over six years in the 1980s, he borrowed more than £200,000 against his mortgage in a “vicious circle,” as he termed it, to sustain the habit and “keep up the pretence that I was successful.”
Virgo attributed part of the issue to the snooker environment he grew up in—hustling in clubs and frequenting bookmakers combined with societal pressure on successful players to live extravagantly, with new cars and lavish holidays. He reflected that the addiction likely limited his snooker achievements, stopping him from reaching even higher, such as becoming world champion.
What Happened When John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction Spiralled Out of Control?
The financial strain was profound. According to sources including The Express, Wales Online, and The Mirror, the borrowing and losses resulted in the repossession of his three-bedroom home in Surrey, where he eventually handed the keys back to the mortgage lender. This period coincided with the breakdowns of his first two marriages, adding layers of personal hardship amid his career demands in snooker and television.
John Virgo’s Path to Recovery from Gambling Addiction in the 1990s
Virgo eventually broke free by acknowledging he was living beyond his means. As he explained in outlets like The Mirror and Daily Record: “I stopped when I realised I was living beyond my means. I rarely bet these days.” The stability from his BBC commentary role and the success of Big Break with Jim Davidson, which began in the early 1990s, provided crucial financial recovery. In later years, he viewed his experiences as a warning, particularly in a sport where gambling has impacted other players, and credited personal growth—along with his happy third marriage to Rosie Ries—for his contentment in retirement.
John Virgo, the renowned snooker player, 1979 UK Champion, and beloved BBC commentator, passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 79 in Spain. World Snooker Tour confirmed his death, noting he is survived by his wife Rosie and children Gary and Brook-Leah. Tributes from the snooker world highlighted his enduring impact, both on and off the table, while family statements emphasized the personal side of his life.
Early Marriages and Challenges
Virgo was married three times throughout his life. His first two marriages ended in divorce amid personal and financial struggles, including a well-documented gambling addiction that led to significant losses, home repossession in the 1990s, and strained relationships.
His first wife was Avril Virgo, with whom he shared a long partnership reports vary, but they were together for around 18 years before separating in 1991 (with the divorce finalized in the early 2000s). The split was acrimonious, involving public disputes over maintenance payments and claims of support during his rise in snooker and television. From this marriage, Virgo had a son named Gary.
His second marriage also produced a daughter named Brook-Leah (often spelled Brook-Leah, Brooke-Leah, or Brook Leah). Details about this second wife are less publicly documented, but sources consistently attribute both children to his earlier marriages, with the second one following the end of his relationship with Avril.
These earlier periods were marked by turbulence, including the pressures of fame from co-hosting Big Break with Jim Davidson and commentary duties, which Virgo later reflected on with regret in interviews and his autobiography.
Lasting Happiness with Rosie Ries
In his later years, Virgo found stability and joy in his third marriage to Rosie Ries, a publishing executive (formerly deputy managing director at John Blake Publishing). The couple had known each other as friends for two decades before Virgo asked her out—he humorously admitted delaying due to fear of rejection after a previous setup fell through. They married in 2009 (some reports note 2010), and their relationship was described as “absolutely wonderful.”
Rosie became a key support in his retirement, helping him navigate health issues like a chronic neck condition. In 2020, the pair relocated to Spain’s Costa del Sol for a warmer climate to ease his pain, where he spent his final years. Recent tributes, including from World Seniors Snooker chairman Jason Francis, noted Rosie’s role in sharing the news of his passing: “Rosie (his wife) and Brook-Leah would like everyone to know. Our hearts go out to them both, Gary and the grandchildren.”
Children and Grandchildren
ohn Virgo is survived by his two children: his son Gary, from his first marriage to Avril Virgo, who was reported to be around 47 years old in earlier accounts, and his daughter Brook-Leah (sometimes spelled Brooke-Leah), from his second marriage, who was noted to be approximately 32 in prior mentions. Family announcements and obituaries consistently extended heartfelt condolences to Gary, Brook-Leah, his third wife Rosie Ries, and his grandchildren, highlighting the strong and loving bonds he maintained with them in his later years, even after navigating significant personal challenges earlier in life.
Virgo’s family journey was one of profound personal growth, evolving from the difficulties of two divorces, financial struggles, and a past gambling addiction to a place of redemption and genuine contentment in his long and happy marriage to Rosie, as well as the meaningful time he spent with his children and grandchildren. While his enduring legacy in snooker as a 1979 UK Champion and beloved BBC commentator remains widely celebrated, tributes following his passing on February 4, 2026, also honored the devoted family man he became in his final decades. Rest in peace, JV.
John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction: A Struggle That Nearly Ruined His Life
John Virgo, the 1979 UK Snooker Champion and iconic BBC commentator who passed away on February 4, 2026, at age 79, spoke openly about his gambling addiction in interviews and his 2017 autobiography Say Goodnight, JV: My Autobiography. The problem intensified during the 1980s and early 1990s, as his competitive earnings from snooker tournaments declined after his peak years.
How John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction Started and Worsened in the 1980s?
As detailed in reports from The Mirror, Daily Mail, and Express, Virgo turned to heavy betting on horse racing to boost his income and preserve the image of success expected of a prominent sportsman. He described it as a “compulsion” he found hard to control, stating: “I went through a period when I was addicted to gambling. It was a compulsion that I struggled to get to grips with. By 1990, it was in danger of ruining my life.” At its worst, he lost £10,000 on horses in just two weeks. Over six years in the 1980s, he borrowed more than £200,000 against his mortgage in a “vicious circle,” as he termed it, to sustain the habit and “keep up the pretence that I was successful.”
Virgo attributed part of the issue to the snooker environment he grew up in—hustling in clubs and frequenting bookmakers combined with societal pressure on successful players to live extravagantly, with new cars and lavish holidays. He reflected that the addiction likely limited his snooker achievements, stopping him from reaching even higher, such as becoming world champion.
What Happened When John Virgo’s Gambling Addiction Spiralled Out of Control?
The financial strain was profound. According to sources including The Express, Wales Online, and The Mirror, the borrowing and losses resulted in the repossession of his three-bedroom home in Surrey, where he eventually handed the keys back to the mortgage lender. This period coincided with the breakdowns of his first two marriages, adding layers of personal hardship amid his career demands in snooker and television.
John Virgo’s Path to Recovery from Gambling Addiction in the 1990s
Virgo eventually broke free by acknowledging he was living beyond his means. As he explained in outlets like The Mirror and Daily Record: “I stopped when I realised I was living beyond my means. I rarely bet these days.” The stability from his BBC commentary role and the success of Big Break with Jim Davidson, which began in the early 1990s, provided crucial financial recovery. In later years, he viewed his experiences as a warning, particularly in a sport where gambling has impacted other players, and credited personal growth—along with his happy third marriage to Rosie Ries for his contentment in retirement.
