In conversation with the affable Chris Evans
Chris Evans’ extraordinary career has seen him become one of the country’s most successful broadcasters and producers. From The Big Breakfast to Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush and TFI Friday, the affable broadcaster changed the TV landscape during the ‘90s. On Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio, BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast show and as owner of Virgin Radio, he ushered in the age of the celebrity DJ. But this is only part of the Chris Evans story.
In an exclusive interview for jamesdaviesmedia, Chris describes the experiences that shaped the boy and created the man who would go on to carve out such a dazzlingly brilliant career.
Determined to escape the dreary council estate in Warrington where he was born, a single-minded Chris started out as the best newspaper boy on the block, armed with no more than a little silver radio. It was here that he would develop a life-long and passionate love affair with broadcasting.
From paperboy to media mogul, Chris, one of this country’s brightest and boldest personalities, tells James Davies the real story beyond the glare of the media spotlight.
Chris, we know a lot about your illustrious and incredibly successful career in broadcasting but we don't know too much about your childhood and what you were like growing up. Can you tell me a little about your early years?
"I grew up on a council estate in Warrington, which was tough. Sadly, my Dad died prematurely- if you can say that about anyone dying at anytime- so life in the beginning was quite hard for me. Apart from that, my early life was great. But I've always had this desire to do well and to try and enjoy life. I think I've done that."
Where did your interest in broadcasting come from?
"It came from listening to the radio and from watching the T.V. From Noel Edmonds Swap Shop, to Mike Reid’s breakfast show, to Timmy Mallet and from my brother who was a disc jockey at a club.
But I think the light went on when I went to see Timmy Mallet do a road show at Old Trafford football ground. That was very exciting. I interviewed him, much like you’re doing to me, and asked him how I could get a job with him. Fortunately for me, there was a guy who was helping him who was leaving, so I wrote off for his job and got it. There was no money. I didn’t get paid for four years but it was experience you couldn’t buy and so that’s how the radio thing started."
What was it like working with your hero?
"It was frightening. Primarily that’s the first thing I think when I think about working with Timmy because his show was so manic and so demanding and compelling and brilliant that to panic was the main ingredient to the night...for me at least. But I learnt so much. It was such a quick learning curb. Ninety per cent of what I do now is still based on what I learnt when I was working with him."
Although you’ve been broadcasting for a number of years now, are you nervous about taking over from Sir Terry (Wogan)?
"It’s going to be a very tough gig. But it’s what I do for a living. It’s not like I’m being asked to play football for England. Although I do want to be the Wayne Rooney of Radio 2- I want to work hard for the team for ninety minutes and more."
You’ve had an incredibly successful career in both television and radio. What do you think makes a good broadcaster?
"Terry! He’s extremely articulate and confident. He’s got a fantastic voice, good dictation, and a brilliant education. He makes emails sparkle. He takes some pretty average material and makes it sing. I don’t know how he does it."
What do your family and friends think of your success and all that you’ve been able to achieve because you’ve been incredibly successful haven’t you?
"I don’t know really. I don’t know what they think of it. I think they like it. I think my Mum likes it but I’m not sure. We don’t really talk about it to be honest. I’m from one of those families that keep your feet very firmly on the ground. My friends- I don’t really have many friends from when I was younger but I hope most people are happy for me."
I imagine being in the public eye is an incredibly surreal experience, particularly when people want pictures and autographs. What do you like to do away from the spotlight?
"Oh god, it is. What I love to do is sit in my garage and smell the cars. I love smelling my cars. I know it sounds silly but I know exactly where I am when I’m doing that. I also like to be with my son and I like to have dinner and a glass of wine with my wife every night. That’s it really. Just the simple things. I don’t watch much tele or listen to much music because I do it for a living. I like to read. In fact I’d like to read more. Everyone would like to read more I imagine. I don’t really consider it a spot light. I consider it a job. I used to consider it a spot light and that was a big, big mistake. For me the day starts like anyone else’s really. I brush my teeth and go to work. Then it’s home. I like to keep it simple these days."
In the 90’s I think it’s fair to say you enjoyed a night out.
"I did, but all the mayhem of the 90s wasn’t who I was – I was taken away with the times. I was living the rock star’s lifestyle, pulling women I’d never dreamt of and it was party time. I used to go out for days at a time and get smashed. I wasn’t an alcoholic, but I definitely had a problem. I did drink too much.And when you go to parties you do strange things – especially if they last for a while. Mine lasted anything between five and ten years. I didn’t really like it though. I like being on my own."
How did living that sort of lifestyle affect you?
"I stopped putting the hours in and started to live the life. I’d become a self-important twat. I thought I was invincible. I was utterly confident for all the wrong reasons. And now I’m confident for all the right reasons. Probably a bit less confident than I was then, even though I’ve got more to be confident about. I became an idiot when I thought I was moving on the same level as the bands and actors who came on TFI Friday. I thought I was part of Oasis, and what I am really is a facilitator. I forgot that. I’ve got back to why I loved radio in the first place, what I’m here for. I push the boundaries every day. We're still being as creative, but not as loud and brash."
You’ve had some fantastic guests on your shows and were able to interview some quite remarkable people. From George Best to the Spice Girls, Pierce Brosnan to Tom Jones. What was that like?
"It was interesting and intriguing. Because the show was live I didn’t really have time to get into them. You’re talking to me for longer than I ever talked to any of those guests in four years. So it was fun but there wasn’t much depth to it. I got a sense of who people were but I didn’t really get into them like you are. This is a different sort of journalism- it’s more comprehensive. We had fun but I would have liked to have talked to them for longer. You mention George Best. What I remember most about George is when he came to my house. We had this football and he said ‘go on then, kick it to us’. I kicked it to him and it was unbelievable. He literally plucked it out of the air- amazing. He was like fifty odd."
Did you ever imagine you would be as successful as you are and achieve all you have? It’s quite remarkable isn’t it?
"Well every single job I’ve ever had- maybe with the exception of one- I absolutely loved. I was a newsagent and I absolutely loved it. When I worked behind the bar at the Red Lion in Warrington I loved it. Even being a fork-lift truck driver was great. It’s all been great. But the success I’ve had is brilliant but it’s contemplative and what’s better than that is talking to you- the next generation. Success can get in the way though. It can be a bit of a heavy bag to carry."
Would you ever consider going back into television?
"It’s not a question of whether I’m going to return to TV. It’s a question of whether TV is going to be there to be returned to. I would go back if we could come up with an idea that was different and new. When I was on Jonathan’s (Ross) show it was very exciting to be there but not for a second did I want to be Jonathan and I was quite relieved that I wasn’t."
When you look back at your career I imagine you have some great memories and reflect fondly on it. Do you have any regrets?
"The only thing I regret in my life is the thing with my daughter because that’s huge and wrong. I was a selfish prick. I regret that, but there’s nothing I can do about it."
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to break into broadcasting today and emulate, if possible, all you have been able to achieve?
"Take it one step at a time. Have an end goal in mind but don’t become self-important like I did. Always keep it simple and don’t over flower anything. Perhaps most importantly, don’t have any baggage. Keep re-doing things time and time and time again until you absolutely don’t have time to do it anymore because things can always get better."
Having interviewed one of the country’s best loved and most talented broadcasters, Chris, an engaging and incredibly likeable chap kindly offered me a week’s work experience with him on Radio 2. This said it all. Success, fame and wealth have not turned his head, nor has he let it dilute the straightforwardness that has always been his way. Thanks Chris.
It’s Not What You Think, by Chris Evans, Published by HarperCollins.
