By Elliott West
“I wouldn’t have been like this 30 years ago, I would have been fighting my corner”.
John Virgo
Introduction
The rumour mill has been turning since John Virgo first announced to the media last September that he expected 2022 to be his and Dennis Taylor’s last appearance as commentators for the World Championship. Now both in their seventies, the 1979 UK Champion and 1985 World Champion have dominated the commentary box for BBC Triple Crown events since the 1980s, highly respected and praised for their commentary skills.
Thanks to a stay of execution, the BBC has kicked this can slightly further down the line and since announced this week that both John and Dennis will depart the company with the BBC snooker team in 2023. A decision that has largely angered snooker fans with many growing up with their dulcet tones. An announcement that closes a final curtain to a pair who have lived and breathed snooker, playing against every snooker player that the game has produced since Fred Davis.
A Bitter Pill to Swallow
This is not the first time that the BBC has wielded its executioner’s hand in snooker. The corporation previously sacked Willie Thorne and Clive Everton in an effort to bring new blood into the commentary box. Yet in my opinion, it hasn’t worked and as a result, many fans have turned to Eurosport which now boasts to be the home of snooker and now has the monopoly on the coverage of the snooker calendar, showing most of the tournaments including the BBC Triple Crown events.
The decision to part ways with John and Dennis comes off the back of comments made by Judd Trump and others that snooker needs a fresh approach. My view is that as long as commentators follow the snooker season and actually know what they are talking about, what’s the problem? If you are going to make a clean sweep in the BBC snooker team, why are not getting rid of Steve Davis and John Parrott? Neither of them actually follow snooker and rely heavily on research notes when they make their limited appearances in the year.
The title of legends is no excuse to keep someone in their job. Like a pair of comfy slippers, they are eventually put in the recycling bin. When the BBC axed Clive Everton, he went on to work for ITV4 and Sky, so I am sure that John and Dennis will be scooped up by another network. These two were students of the late and great Ted Lowe and have both worked alongside the likes of Jack Karnehm, John Spencer, Ray Edmonds, John Pulman and Willie Thorne. An impressive CV and one that deserves another interview somewhere else.
The BBC has been quite cunning in their approach to sacking these former professional snooker players. Principally because they know that the dog will neither bark nor bite. Dennis now lives in Wales and John in Spain and is frankly enjoying life in the slow lane. They haven’t reacted angrily to the decision with Dennis remaining silent and John acting as the spokesman to speak to the media. JV’s response to the decision was:
“Maybe it’s a working-class attitude I’ve been brought up with but there’s b***** all I can do about it, so why get bothered? I’m not going to go round on my hands and knees begging for a job”.
John Virgo
The Way Forward
If the BBC is to continue this revamp, it must do a complete clear out of its team before the UK Championship in November. There are plenty of current players that can be utilised from the tour to cover commentary stints and why not have an extensive selection process in the time available to produce a team that rivals that of Eurosport. At the moment, only the loyal snooker fans are clinging to this sinking ship and it needs a complete revolution. Ken Doherty works well in the team but surround him with some fresh faces. Bring back Jack Lisowski, utilise players such as Michael Holt, Peter Devlin and Peter Lines. All have shown true skill in the commentary box and I am sure there are quite a few more in the 128 players available on the tour to choose from. If you are going to revolutionise the BBC snooker team, don’t do it half-baked, be radical and complete the job.
