Chris Evans (British broadcaster)
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Chris Evans (born April 1, 1966, in Warrington, England) is a British celebrity.
Evans started his broadcasting career at Piccadilly Radio, working also at the BBC London radio station GLR presenting 'Round at Chris Evans' every Saturday morning from 10am-1pm & also presented a Monday - Thursday evening show from 7.30-10pm.
In 1990, his weekday evening show ended, but he still continued with his Saturday morning show and in addition to that, in early 1992, Chris presented a Sunday afternoon show on BBC Radio 1 called 'Too Much Gravy', which went out from 2.30-4pm until September 1992.
He found national celebrity as the co-host of The Big Breakfast in late 1992 and in 1993 he left GLR, to present exactly the same format on Virgin Radio, where he lasted only 3 months.
Evans left The Big Breakfast on 29 September 1994 and formed his own production company Ginger Productions which has produced all 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.
In 1995 Evans joined BBC Radio 1 as the breakfast show host and significantly boosted its ratings, broadcasting from 6.30-9am. His spell at the station ended in 1997 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 from 13 October 1997. 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)[1] (http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2003/1423.html&query=virgin+radio&method=all). 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 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.
The majority of Evans time is spent developing programmes for his new production company UMTV.
He has recently re-entered public life presenting the Breakfast UK Radio Aid’s day of programming for the victims of the Asian Tsunami, and has been presenting occasional shows on BBC Radio 2.