John Virgo: Snooker commentator swears live on air during World Championship semi-final

The 70-year-old snooker commentator believed his conversaton could not be picked up by the microphone

Virgo in action during the 1987 Embassy World Snooker Championship at the Crucible (Getty)

John Virgo is said to be 'embarrassed and apologetic' after he was heard to swear during BBC One's coverage of World Snooker Championship.

The 70-year-old commentator did not believe he was on air while speaking to a colleague away from the microphone during Mark Selby and Marco Fu's semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

"I wanted to watch a bit of racing this afternoon. I'll be lucky to watch some f****** Match of the Day," he was heard to say during the live broadcast.

Virgo's remark related to the length of the frame he was commentating on, which eventually ran to 76 minutes and 11 seconds and became the longest in the Crucible's history.

"It was a mistake and I've spoken to him about it," said Graham Fry, managing director for global production of IMG Media, the company which produces the BBC's coverage of the annual event in Sheffield. "He's embarrassed and apologetic.

"It was off-mic, the mics weren't switched on and it somehow got picked up," Fry told Press Association Sport.

Selby went on to build a 5-3 lead over Fu in the opening session of their semi-final. The winner will face Ding Junhui in Sunday's final, after his 17-11 victory over Alan McManus.

Virgo, who was nicknamed 'Mr Perfection' as a player and won the 1979 UK Championship, became a well-known television personality outside of snooker while presenting the BBC game show Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson.

Additional reporting by PA