 Radio DJ and TV presenter Chris Evans' brand of brash, loud and energetic entertainment chimed well with twentysomething audiences in the 1990s, where he made his mark with Channel 4's The Big Breakfast (1992-2002), Don't Forget Your Toothbrush (1994-1995) and TFI Friday (1996-1999). Born in Warrington on 1 April, 1966 Evans began his broadcasting career at Manchester Piccadilly Radio in 1983. In 1992, he gained his big television break with The Big Breakfast, Channel 4's fast-paced breakfast show, which he co-hosted with Gaby Roslin. Spurred on by this success, Evans formed his own TV production company, Ginger Productions (a reference to his trademark curly red hair), which made the live Saturday night game-cum-music-cum-chat show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, whose innovative format was widely sold abroad. During this time Evans also gained the prestigious breakfast morning slot on BBC Radio 1. His next Channel 4 show, TFI Friday, was an extension of this, with live music, celebrity interviews blending with madcap games, competitions and a spontaneous feel. In 2002 Evans founded production company UMTV, which made live TV shows such as Boys and Girls (Channel 4, 2003), The Terry and Gaby Show (Five, 2003-4) and Evans' own OFI Sunday (ITV, 2005), which lasted for just five editions. After a high profile bust-up with Radio 1, Evans eventually re-established himself on Radio 2, where he would ultimately take over Terry Wogan's long-running breakfast show slot. His second marriage, to singer-turned-actress Billie Piper, was short-lived, but the two remain friends. Eddie Dyja
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FILM & TV CREDITS