Media UK

Chris Evans

Chris Evans was born April 1, 1966, in Warrington, England.

Evans started his broadcasting career at Piccadilly Radio, working also at the BBC London radio station GLR. He found national celebrity as the co-host of The Big Breakfast in 1992 leaving in 1994. Evans formed his own production company Ginger Productions which has produced much of his subsequent work. This included the show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush which was broadcast in 1994 and 1995. The format of this show was sold around the world.

Chris Evans

In 1995 Evans joined BBC Radio 1 as the breakfast show host and significantly boosted its ratings. His spell at the station ended in 1996 when he was dismissed for not turning up to work, and demanding Fridays off. The demand was made in part because of the additional commitments he had taken on as the host of Channel 4's TFI Friday programme. Launched in 1996 the show ended in 2000 after viewing figures declined.

He went on to host Virgin Radio's breakfast show. On June 28, 2001 he was sacked by Virgin Radio after he allegedly went on a drinking spree and failed to turn up to present the Virgin Radio breakfast show. He attempted to sue Virgin Radio claiming that he was unfairly dismissed and denied share options worth £8.6m. The judgment in Evans v SMG Television Ltd. & Ors [2003] EWHC 1423 (Ch) (26 June 2003) was given on June 26, 2003. Justice Lightman found that he had been fairly dismissed and was not entitled to the share options. Virgin Radio countersued and Evans was ordered to pay £1m towards Virgin Radio's legal costs.

He was part owner of Virgin Radio, until he sold his share in the company to the Scottish Media Group. He still owns shares in SMG plc.

He has recently re-entered public life presenting the breakfast show on UK Radio Aid’s day of programming for the victims of the Asian Tsunami. He also presented two programmes on BBC Radio 2 over the 2005 Easter Bank holiday and the 2005 edition of the Brit Awards.

The majority of Evans time is spent developing programmes for his new production company UMTV. He married ex-singer Billie Piper in Las Vegas in May 2001. In September 2004 news stories circulated regarding the perceived end of the marriage. In Spring 2005 it was confirmed that Chris and Billie would divorce.

Some or all material in this page has been adapted from the Chris Evans entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evans), or others, in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org), the free encyclopedia.