Chris Evans - First Breakfast Show on Radio 1

The life of Chris Evans is well documented, not least by him. Rightly so too. There s no doubt, he is one of the UK radio contemporary greats; and has already secured his place in the medium’s history.

Piccadilly in Manchester saw his radio birth, working with his idol Timmy Mallett; whose influence left its mark. Off then to GLR in London, whilst the BBC explored just what it should do with its London Local Radio station. Chris took advantage of its exploratory style before a swift move to a new Virgin Radio followed. Then, a hugely successful TV career. But, like all great live TV presenters, he is a radio man at heart.

Asking someone to do the Radio 1 breakfast show is a little bit like asking someone to be PM or DG, apart from the fact it has more letters. People just say yes.

I recall the first moments of that first Radio 1 breakfast show, when he played ‘Welcome Home’. It was a new show, but it sounded more like Steve Wright and colleagues had been keeping the seat warm for a generation, as he suggests in this excerpt from that first show in 1995.

The programme lasted a couple of eventful years; and ended just as eventfully. As did his Virgin career. But great talent earns more of a right to be awkward than the rest of us humble folk; albeit it is not a prequisite and, thankfully, age oils reasonableness. One gets the feeling it is only his Radio 2 career which will enjoy a more statesmanlike end when the time eventually comes. I suspect it’s no time soon. Unless he plays Peters & Lee again. Go on, Chris. I dare you.