For those who remember this will confirm that this was a must see.....today's audience will be wondering what's funny,and those reminiscing will have big smiles...
I'm a yankee that just got into snooker via youtube this year, but I love the game, and love all these old clips. I especially appreciate that so many personalities and characters have stayed around the game for decades and continue to play and commentate on the game. I think the guys that play today have just as much character or personality, it's just that they e emulated Steve Davis's game so much, Davis has become the textbook prototypical snooker player, that stuff, business like approach and delivery, but we know Steve is a real character now. Henry has shown it in his life away from the table (and now returning!) and I'd wager more would be willing to be like this at the table if Ronnie didn't kick their asses left handed for 20 years.
John Virgo doing his Willie Thorne impression was the best. JV would put on a bald-head “wig” with hair at the sides and, halfway through the routine, he’d knock it askew and say, “This thing keeps coming off. I don’t know how he keeps his on”. Fab stuff, and a good-hearted takeoff of one of snooker’s finest. RIP Willie Thorne.
For those of us who saw this live. For those of us who remember these amazing characters. Those few of us that are so lucky as we will never see the like again.
The 80s really were the golden times of snooker. So many unique characters. Each was highly skilled just as today's are, but they were more real by the way they just showed their true natural character and mannerisms. Today its so professional, gleaming and over poshed, it's lost its soul. The 80s were full of individuals not afraid to just be themselves more - and be allowed to be just that, not over burdened by over bearing etiquette rules. . Great characters and I miss them all. Those that have since past away, may you all rest in peace and thank you for sharing with us your very true self.
Yeah, it was similar to the way the light entertainment performers learned over years in the tough working men's clubs in the 50s 60s and then when they hit the television in the 70s, they had all the skills and character fully formed and their personalities were unique. It was exactly the same for the snooker players. To survive and hustle in those clubs meant they all had to develop those unique characters. A great time to watch snooker.
As a kid I loved catching these, genuinely still hilarious after all these years, Virgo was just a snooker player but during these skits he held the room and.entertained like a pro performer, that always impressed me
Wonderful ! Johns Impressions were Fabulous ! We have had Some Great Characters in this Game ! Thae Audiences Always got their Money's worth and Far Over that ? I'm glad I came throught that Era Too ! Thank you for Sharing this Magical Segment ! Pure Joy ! ❤ ❤ ❤ 😊
Feels like it was yesterday watching this. Couldn't do this today. No real characters to rip the piss out of & the Pontins joke would upset too many. THIS is why the 80's were snooker's golden years
This was when 🎱 was snooker enjoyable to watch good memories of the old snooker player watched every tournament my favorite player was Steve Hendry bring back the old days when snooker was a pleasure to watch
I remember this. Joe Johnson had finished his semi quite early 16-8 against Knowles. And this was as a filler in before the final session of Davis against Thorburn, which was 11-11 going into the final session
He has refined the routine over the years. I saw another video on here where he is doing Higgins and he looks at the bottle of water on his table with disgust before unscrewing the cue and pretending to down something alcoholic hidden in the bottom half. Back in the 80's of course players were allowed to drink alcohol so I guess as a joke that made a natural progression for modern rules.
The golden age of snooker - so many great characters - todays players are better - the standard is much higher but they will never be loved the way the players of this era were , and they will never have the charisma of those guys
Is the standard so much higher today? It always seemed pretty high to me in those days. But certainly there was more character in the game. Those players had real personalities. I wonder if it was because they had perhaps done other things in life than play snooker? Or perhaps the professional snooker experience was different in those days? When those players were younger there was only a fraction of the money that eventually came with the spread of colour television and Pot Black, and the moving of the World Championship to the Crucible and it becoming a big television event. For example when Alex Higgins first won the title in 1972 it was played in a club somewhere, over many many more frames, and a prize of something like £200 if my memory serves.
@@martm216 The game has developed a bit but the standard is about the same (if you look back at some old Pot Black's on here) especially considering the improvement in equipment.
Stephen Reeds watching Eddie Charlton play was about as exciting as watching paint dry. We went to see a match at the crucible, he was playing Kirk Stevens. The other table had played all 8 frames of their session whilst Eddie and Kirk were still on the 4th frame
Apart from Rocket Ronnie, in my opinion there are no characters in the modern game. They all seem robotic and soulless. In the 80's you had real characters: Higgins, kirk Stevens,John Virgo, Jimmy White, Bill werbenuik,ray reardon, Tony Knowles. The list is endless. Heaven help the modern game when Ronnie retires.
@@thecultofjohnnydelr.soulsw7010 can't blame them for trying to earn extra cash. Got to remember thar players only started earning decent money in the 80s. Players scraped a living in the 1970s, and it could be argued it was largely due to characters like Alex Higgins thar brought in the TV money. The total prize money for the 1972 world championship was £8000.
Ah, simpler times. These provided such wonderful moments of levity. If he told that joke now though, he'd be out the door and banished by the BBC forever. What horrible times we now live in - where did it all go wrong?
I remember he did this just before Davis and Thorburn came out for the final session of their semi, it was 11-11. Joe Johnson had beaten Tony Knowles 16-8 earlier so they had a bit of spare time
If someone said now that they didn’t mind being a judge at the contest because of all the beautiful ladies there would be pandemonium over it, sad state of affairs
Anyone remember ' Whispering ' Ted Lowe's commentary when the great Fred Davis was struggling to line up a shot along the rail, viz, "Fred Davis is having trouble getting his leg over ". It brought the house down. 😂
The best one from Ted Lowe whilst commentating was this one: _"For those of you watching in black and white, the brown ball is next to the blue."_ It might sound kind of a dumb comment but it was actually a good comment to make. The brown was almost indistinguishable from the reds on a black and white tv but when Ted made that comment the blue was actually on its spot with the brown ball very close to it.
@@martm216 .......I have always had a 'soft-spot' for John Virgo and love his no-frills and humorous approach. This respect for him started way back in the mid-1970's when the company I worked for sent me to their Manchester office to 'shadow' one of their best managers. [whom I will call 'Ken']. Like me, 'Ken' was an avid snooker fan - and every night after work we would end up at his snooker club having a frame or ten! One night though, he took me to Manchester YMCA as there was this highly touted, up-and-coming young player appearing in a match who 'Ken' wanted to see. His name was Terry Fitzgerald and talk was, that he was going to be the next Alex Higgins! Coaching Fitzgerald and with him that night was none other than John Virgo! So it was a real thrill for me to see them both. Sadly, Fitzgerald lost the match [he missed a relatively simple blue off its spot into the middle pocket] and I clearly remember Virgo patiently consoling his young prodigy. I never knew whatever happened to Terry Fitzgerald - I never heard of him again. But seeing John Virgo was a real pleasure and his voice was greatly missed at this year's snooker World Championships.
Legend of the game. Growing up always enjoyed him. Never seen this until today but some great snookering impressions. Shame you cant still have a beer at the crucible. Beer and a burger and big bill werbenuik would have waited a bit longer for heaven.
Pincho Paxton, I will add, 96 in the Southern Hemisphere and 181 in Metric plus the bonus of Two Can Chew. I had to comment after I read your post, Thumbs up John Australia.
@@dagnut Who said they were "teenagers"? Is a woman "past-it" being in a beauty contest after 19? Why the bias? Morecambe & Wise made many jokes about much younger girls being desirable....or do they now "offend you" along with the rest of the ultra-sensitive, easily-offended bunch? Lighten up.
Most of them are boring, that's the problem. To be funny you need personality traits that you can exaggerate - in the modern game players are so ultra-professional and straightforward, there is nothing for John to go at.
imagine a 21 year old ronnie o sullivan in the 80,s. he finally gets to the final beating, ray reardon/ eddie charlton/ cliff thorburn/ terry griffiths/ john spencer lol. he might get back to essex 4 months later after the tourny begun lmao.
Mr Virgo the legend, that is when snooker was not over serious. And full of characters. 80s was the best in my opinion.
Totally agree, I loved Snooker back then.
100%, we’ve had great players after this era, but the 80’s had the best ever personalities !!
everyone was on banger thats why
Whats banger? Copa cabana?
@@pmacc3557 charlie
For those who remember this will confirm that this was a must see.....today's audience will be wondering what's funny,and those reminiscing will have big smiles...
Good memories:) I remember watching this live when I was 9 years old and I thought this was a real treat. Thank you John.
His Alex Higgins was spectacularly accurate 😂😂😂
I'm a yankee that just got into snooker via youtube this year, but I love the game, and love all these old clips. I especially appreciate that so many personalities and characters have stayed around the game for decades and continue to play and commentate on the game.
I think the guys that play today have just as much character or personality, it's just that they e emulated Steve Davis's game so much, Davis has become the textbook prototypical snooker player, that stuff, business like approach and delivery, but we know Steve is a real character now. Henry has shown it in his life away from the table (and now returning!) and I'd wager more would be willing to be like this at the table if Ronnie didn't kick their asses left handed for 20 years.
Classic! The 80’s was the best decade for everything. Glad I was there to live through it!
I had this recorded as a kid on VHS, i lost that tape years ago, nice to see it again ❤
I met John Virgo about ten years ago at an exhibition match with Jimmy White. He was a lovely bloke and made time to speak to everyone after. 🎱
From a golden age. Takes me back to my childhood. Many thanks.
His Alex was spot on. Loved watching snooker as a kid with my awesome uncle and brother in the eighties. Its never been the same since.
John Virgo doing his Willie Thorne impression was the best. JV would put on a bald-head “wig” with hair at the sides and, halfway through the routine, he’d knock it askew and say, “This thing keeps coming off. I don’t know how he keeps his on”. Fab stuff, and a good-hearted takeoff of one of snooker’s finest. RIP Willie Thorne.
Lol. 😁 Loved the Ray Reardon no 2 won it joke. Vaguely remember watching this routine first time around. Still equally as funny now.
Wonderful! John Virgo is a natural. He has a marvellous comic gift. Better than many a variety performance I've seen.
Absolutely gifted with the imitations of the great snooker players
This is one of my all time favourite comedy moments, and there have been a good few.
For those of us who saw this live. For those of us who remember these amazing characters.
Those few of us that are so lucky as we will never see the like again.
He was touched for the very first tam
The brilliant John virgo.
.good player entertainer...and show man..!! Great entertainment and the crowd enjoyed it...😋👍
The 80s really were the golden times of snooker. So many unique characters. Each was highly skilled just as today's are, but they were more real by the way they just showed their true natural character and mannerisms.
Today its so professional, gleaming and over poshed, it's lost its soul. The 80s were full of individuals not afraid to just be themselves more - and be allowed to be just that, not over burdened by over bearing etiquette rules.
.
Great characters and I miss them all. Those that have since past away, may you all rest in peace and thank you for sharing with us your very true self.
Yeah, it was similar to the way the light entertainment performers learned over years in the tough working men's clubs in the 50s 60s and then when they hit the television in the 70s, they had all the skills and character fully formed and their personalities were unique. It was exactly the same for the snooker players. To survive and hustle in those clubs meant they all had to develop those unique characters. A great time to watch snooker.
As a kid I loved catching these, genuinely still hilarious after all these years, Virgo was just a snooker player but during these skits he held the room and.entertained like a pro performer, that always impressed me
❤
Used to watch pot black with my Dad growing up in Australia! (1980’s)
Always loved snooker! Great memories!
We need a modern version!
Willie Thorne RIP
Fond times
His hair's all gone...
@@count7340 I think he ought to chalk it!
This man has been middle aged for 40 years.
Hahahaha
John Virgo. Classic comic and a fantastic iconic snooker player
Utterly brilliant , brings back happy memories.
Snookers best time , regarding top notch players and characters.
Marvellous!. Thoroughly entertaining, He should've been an actor.
He was. He spent years playing the part of a snooker player!
I remember watching these sessions in 86. Brilliant.
Wonderful ! Johns Impressions were Fabulous ! We have had Some Great Characters in this Game ! Thae Audiences Always got their Money's worth and Far Over that ? I'm glad I came throught that Era Too ! Thank you for Sharing this Magical Segment ! Pure Joy ! ❤ ❤ ❤ 😊
Feels like it was yesterday watching this. Couldn't do this today. No real characters to rip the piss out of & the Pontins joke would upset too many. THIS is why the 80's were snooker's golden years
Well said!
Spot on Paddy!
@Christopher Horner So why don't they then? Left wing loony
I can't believe l've only found this now. But brilliant.. absolutely brilliant 👍👍👌👌
Oh I do miss the old days.
from the time when snooker was gripping, spontaneous and ENTERTAINING - today it's a bunch of machines.
Remember seeing this live that year. Still makes me smile. 🙂
Me too. I was 15. I still love snooker and never miss tbe big events. The 80's were the best though.
Absolutely nailed every legendry snooker player. Virgo rocks.
Christ Almighty, that was 36 years ago, and I remember it as if it were only yesterday!! Still wonderful, John!!
The golden era. Loved watching this as a kid. Virgo the Legend.
Brilliant. I used to watch snooker religiously then as a lad with my Dad. Memorable individuals.
Never get tired of watching this
I watched this when I was 16! I treasure this footage!
I love his impressions brilliant
This was when 🎱 was snooker enjoyable to watch good memories of the old snooker player watched every tournament my favorite player was Steve Hendry bring back the old days when snooker was a pleasure to watch
@Mickey Finn
I gather even a "later great" Ronnie O'Sullivan, has decried the talent in the game today.
Ah well, we have our memories.
This is around the time I fell in love with the great game...... 😌
I never realised back then what a paradise 1970s 80s Britain was back then
I think you left your proofreading skills back there.
I remember this. Joe Johnson had finished his semi quite early 16-8 against Knowles. And this was as a filler in before the final session of Davis against Thorburn, which was 11-11 going into the final session
I remember this from my youth. Virgo always did a turn at a big tournament. Same impressions every time but it was riveting, hilarious TV.
He has refined the routine over the years. I saw another video on here where he is doing Higgins and he looks at the bottle of water on his table with disgust before unscrewing the cue and pretending to down something alcoholic hidden in the bottom half. Back in the 80's of course players were allowed to drink alcohol so I guess as a joke that made a natural progression for modern rules.
The golden age of snooker - so many great characters - todays players are better - the standard is much higher but they will never be loved the way the players of this era were , and they will never have the charisma of those guys
Is the standard so much higher today? It always seemed pretty high to me in those days. But certainly there was more character in the game. Those players had real personalities. I wonder if it was because they had perhaps done other things in life than play snooker? Or perhaps the professional snooker experience was different in those days? When those players were younger there was only a fraction of the money that eventually came with the spread of colour television and Pot Black, and the moving of the World Championship to the Crucible and it becoming a big television event. For example when Alex Higgins first won the title in 1972 it was played in a club somewhere, over many many more frames, and a prize of something like £200 if my memory serves.
@@martm216 The game has developed a bit but the standard is about the same (if you look back at some old Pot Black's on here) especially considering the improvement in equipment.
Don't think Cliff Thornton or Eddie Charlton were over charismatic.
@Ra HoWa The best thing about now is that White people are getting put into their place these days. Called Karma you racist dog.
Stephen Reeds watching Eddie Charlton play was about as exciting as watching paint dry. We went to see a match at the crucible, he was playing Kirk Stevens. The other table had played all 8 frames of their session whilst Eddie and Kirk were still on the 4th frame
What a fabulous trip down memory lane . Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
I remember watching this .....brought back some great memories
Apart from Rocket Ronnie, in my opinion there are no characters in the modern game. They all seem robotic and soulless. In the 80's you had real characters: Higgins, kirk Stevens,John Virgo, Jimmy White, Bill werbenuik,ray reardon, Tony Knowles. The list is endless. Heaven help the modern game when Ronnie retires.
They all sold their souls to the corporations hence the advertising boards.
All for the money but more for greed.
@Paul Not humanely possible, unless he uses the force to feel his shots.
@@thecultofjohnnydelr.soulsw7010 can't blame them for trying to earn extra cash. Got to remember thar players only started earning decent money in the 80s. Players scraped a living in the 1970s, and it could be argued it was largely due to characters like Alex Higgins thar brought in the TV money. The total prize money for the 1972 world championship was £8000.
Yes true, same as darts.
Even the boring players of the day had more character such as Cliff Thorburn and Eddie Charlton.
Ah, simpler times. These provided such wonderful moments of levity. If he told that joke now though, he'd be out the door and banished by the BBC forever. What horrible times we now live in - where did it all go wrong?
I remember he did this just before Davis and Thorburn came out for the final session of their semi, it was 11-11. Joe Johnson had beaten Tony Knowles 16-8 earlier so they had a bit of spare time
When snooker was fun and nobody was covered in tacky logos
Everything is about money these days. Literally everything. The world is obsessed with more, more, more.
@@phillipe124For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil - 1 Timothy 6:10
Remember watching this on BBC2 years ago, made me laugh big time 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haven't seen it for decades. Still funny.
When snooker was worth watching !
A master class impersonator and so accurate too
Love willie Thorne. Sad miss
Amazing guy. Great player too.
Brilliant.what a top man Virgo is
Absolutely fantastic.
Top notch 👍👍👍
Simply the best era of snooker brilliant characters and so enjoyable not all about money
John Spencer must have loved the powder!
I thought it was gonna be the world championship of impressions. clicked straight away
Classy John Virgo brilliant
Top class very entertaining
JV was brilliant scary that a snooker player in the 80s is funnier than majority of todays comedians.
Great to see John Spencer and Willie Thorne
The good old days when snooker players had personalities.
wheres the cue ball going , WHERES THE FUCKING CUE BALL GOING !
Loved that. Yep the game doesnt have these sorts of characters anymore.
A time when people weren’t so easily offended
If someone said now that they didn’t mind being a judge at the contest because of all the beautiful ladies there would be pandemonium over it, sad state of affairs
Tired, tired comment. Nobody is offended except you.
@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 No he's dead right political correctness has confined us miserably.
@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 Futhermore it's loonies like you that give us the challenge of waking up in the morning to face the day.
Funny how that’s not done now. Probably offend some snowflake now a days. Or probably not “diverse” enough.
Got to meet John once. Lovely man.
Anyone remember ' Whispering ' Ted Lowe's commentary when the great Fred Davis was struggling to line up a shot along the rail, viz, "Fred Davis is having trouble getting his leg over ". It brought the house down. 😂
@Moggs . My favourite commentator's ' bloomer' is the classic from Cricket commentator Brian Johnson: "The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey" 🤣
@@Mackeson3 😂🤣😂🤣
Remember that 😂😂
The best one from Ted Lowe whilst commentating was this one:
_"For those of you watching in black and white, the brown ball is next to the blue."_
It might sound kind of a dumb comment but it was actually a good comment to make. The brown was almost indistinguishable from the reds on a black and white tv but when Ted made that comment the blue was actually on its spot with the brown ball very close to it.
Alex Higgins RIP .. Peoples Champion!
Fab show man every act 💯 correct love it
Iv seen him do this last night , he is a funny but nice man
Yes, very decent human-being. Remember his kindness to a wayward Kirk Stevens many years ago.
@@martm216 .......I have always had a 'soft-spot' for John Virgo and love his no-frills and humorous approach. This respect for him started way back in the mid-1970's when the company I worked for sent me to their Manchester office to 'shadow' one of their best managers. [whom I will call 'Ken'].
Like me, 'Ken' was an avid snooker fan - and every night after work we would end up at his snooker club having a frame or ten! One night though, he took me to Manchester YMCA as there was this highly touted, up-and-coming young player appearing in a match who 'Ken' wanted to see. His name was Terry Fitzgerald and talk was, that he was going to be the next Alex Higgins!
Coaching Fitzgerald and with him that night was none other than John Virgo! So it was a real thrill for me to see them both. Sadly, Fitzgerald lost the match [he missed a relatively simple blue off its spot into the middle pocket] and I clearly remember Virgo patiently consoling his young prodigy.
I never knew whatever happened to Terry Fitzgerald - I never heard of him again. But seeing John Virgo was a real pleasure and his voice was greatly missed at this year's snooker World Championships.
Absolutely brilliant
Legend of the game. Growing up always enjoyed him. Never seen this until today but some great snookering impressions. Shame you cant still have a beer at the crucible. Beer and a burger and big bill werbenuik would have waited a bit longer for heaven.
It’s these days. Some of my heroes on here on John is speaking about.
Have always loved watching John Virgo he as always made me laugh
One of my favourites. Hilarious! ^_^
When snooker was brilliant to watch
Virgo funnier than people think
Remember watching this. I was a few weeks shy of my 12th birthday.
John's impressions were better than his Snooker playing.
He should have been a comedian
John is a legend 👍🏻👍🏻😁😁
Yes, but comedy's a funny thing, you can't predict anyone's reaction.
The excellent Mr Virgo
Cheers John that cheered me up!
What a talent John Virgo was, both on and off the baize. [retired now]
He should have said No 69 won the beauty contest!
Pincho Paxton, I will add, 96 in the Southern Hemisphere and 181 in Metric plus the bonus of Two Can Chew. I had to comment after I read your post, Thumbs up John Australia.
@crissgran although it was about teenage girls
Pincho: Good one!...but I doubt the Beeb would have been too happy.
@@dagnut Who said they were "teenagers"?
Is a woman "past-it" being in a beauty contest after 19?
Why the bias?
Morecambe & Wise made many jokes about much younger girls being desirable....or do they now "offend you" along with the rest of the ultra-sensitive, easily-offended bunch?
Lighten up.
Superb!
Legend!
I Wish John could try and Impersonate some of today's players.
Most of them are boring, that's the problem. To be funny you need personality traits that you can exaggerate - in the modern game players are so ultra-professional and straightforward, there is nothing for John to go at.
Need to impersonate Ebdon and Sullivan
@@SRC267He'd need about three times as long as this whole segment to impersonate Ebdon alone.
Great memories…JV was great at these impressions
imagine a 21 year old ronnie o sullivan in the 80,s. he finally gets to the final beating, ray reardon/ eddie charlton/ cliff thorburn/ terry griffiths/ john spencer lol. he might get back to essex 4 months later after the tourny begun lmao.
Brilliant!
brilliant from JV,
The Higgins one was incredible
Put a smile on your face that, what a guy Virgo is 👍
Remember this so well still hilarious
He should have turned his glasses upside down
Fantastic
Thanks John, I haven't played for years but the debt that Snooker fans...and the sponsors / TV companies owe you over the years is huge.
John potted more blacks in his impersonations than he did as himself.
He was pretty good and maybe would have bagged a few world titles had Davis not turned up.
@@zarrow50 - yeah loved to watch John back on the day as a kid.
@@ant1georgiou I think he got a 147 but there was a TV camera strike so it was not recorded.
JV taking over the legend status of snooker commentary from the two greats, Ted Lowe and Clive Everton