Chris Evans to launch new Virgin Radio show after announcing Radio 2 departure

'In many ways Virgin Radio is my spiritual home'

Chris Evans will return to Virgin Radio almost 20 years after leaving the station.

The broadcaster only this morning (3 September) announced his departure from BBC Radio 2 after 13 years with the station.

He previously hosted Virgin’s breakfast show from 1997 to 2001 and will return to the same time slot. Evans was sacked in 2001 for failing to turn up for work after several highly-publicised drinking sessions with then-wife Billie Piper.

Evans said: “In many ways Virgin Radio is my spiritual home. I see nothing but exciting and groundbreaking opportunities ahead.

“In a medium that is changing so quickly on a daily basis, the potential for growth is unprecedented.

“Our plan is, to give it all we’ve got, see where we can get to and have the most possible fun along the way. It makes me smile every time I think about it.”

An emotional Evans announced his Radio 2 exit on air, citing his wife’s pregnancy with twins as reason to quit.

He added: “Some of us are mountain climbers and if you get to the top of your favourite mountain, you become a mountain observer, so I’ve got to keep climbing. You have to keep shaking it up.”

The 52-year-old first joined Radio 2 in September 2005, hosting the Saturday afternoon show before moving to drivetime in April 2006. He later replaced Sir Terry Wogan as host of the breakfast show in January 2010. The show regularly attracts 9 million listeners, making it the UK’s most popular show of its type.

Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said of Evans’ appointment: “We’re very excited to have one of the world’s greatest radio presenters hosting our flagship breakfast show.’’

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Evans was named the second-highest paid star at the BBC last year, earning between £1,660,000 and £1,669,999 for 2017/18.