John Virgo has praised Jim Davidson as a "comic genius" and says it's a "waste of talent" that he's no longer on TV.
John Virgo has praised Jim Davidson as a 'comic genius'
The 76-year-old former pro snooker player co-hosted BBC game show 'Big Break' alongside the comedian - who has come up against cancel culture due to some of his views and jokes in his stand-up shows - throughout most of the 90s, and John believes it's a shame Jim's talents are not on the small screen nowadays.
He said: "Jim is a comic genius and yet he can’t appear on television, because he has a black mark against his name.
"It’s understandable. I just feel it’s a waste of a talent."
John also recalled his and Jim's 'Big Break' days, admitting they had an "incredible" run on the programme.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, he added: "It was life-changing. We replaced 'Question of Sport' in their slot and the viewing figures were better than they had from the first day.
"We were up against 'Blind Date' and we were getting as many viewers. It was incredible."
'Big Break' ran for 222 episodes from 1991 to 2002, and featured John demonstrating a trick shot which had to be replicated by a contestant.
The game show also featured multiple appearances from several pro snooker players, who would team up with contestants on the programme, including Jimmy White and Dennis Taylor, who appeared 11 times, and Stephen Hendry, who was on nine episodes of the series.
In September 2020, Davidson sparked fury with an expletive-filled rant about dance troupe Diversity, in which he suggested they do a "mugging thing".
He blasted their controversial 'Britain's Got Talent' performance - which narrated the death of George Floyd, a black man who was murdered in May 2020 when white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck - branding it "f****** ridiculous", and claiming they "don't give a f***" about George.
He said: "Diversity, what the f*** do you want? You want to be famous, don’t you? You want to be all around the world. That’s why you’re doing it, you don’t give a f*** about George. F****** ridiculous.
"What more can people do before you say, 'Oh that’s enough now?' You don’t see white couples on adverts anymore, do you? Most TV presenters are non-white. 'The Golden Girls', that’s being made by black people. Tom and Jerry’s mum will probably be reinstated.
"And there’s loads of white people sticking up for you. Young white girls walking around with banners, 'defund the police', 'support black people'. Well, I say most young girls. Gemma’s sister is not holding up a banner as she was violently mugged by three black men. Perhaps Diversity can do a mugging thing."
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