Chris Evans to replace Wogan on Radio 2’s breakfast show

BBC Radio 2 has confirmed that Chris Evans will replace Sir Terry Wogan when he leaves the breakfast show at the end of the year.

Wogan announced his plans to step down from hosting the flagship show during this morning’s news bulletin.  “It touches me deeply that I’ve played a part in your lives for, it seems, like generations,” he said.

Wogan has presented the early-morning show on Radio 2 since 1993, and with a reach of almost 8 million listeners, it is the UK’s most listened to breakfast show.

Chris Evans, who has had a fairly colourful radio history, currently hosts Radio 2’s afternoon drive-time show, which has a weekly reach of around 1.28 million listeners.

“This is very much Terry’s story not mine, as well it should be,” Evans said.  “To step down from something you have done so well and for so long, and obviously still enjoy doing, must be a tough call even for such a stoic as Sir Tel.

“That said, although I will miss the drivetime show which I have loved for the last three-and-a-bit years, I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of hosting the flagship show on one of the BBC’s national networks.”

Bob Shennan, controller of Radio 2 and 6 Music, added: “Chris is a unique broadcasting talent with a huge passion for Radio 2 and its listeners, as we read every day on his blog.  Taking over the reins of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show is a daunting task, but I’m 100% certain that Chris will prove himself a worthy successor to Terry’s legacy.”

Evans started his BBC radio career presenting on GLR and then a Sunday afternoon show on Radio 1 in 1992.  He left just a year later to join Virgin Radio before re-joining to host Radio 1’s flagship breakfast show in 1995.  However, he was sacked in 1997 following a long-running dispute with BBC bosses about his on-air behaviour and lack-0f attendance.

Evans went on to work in television before being offered a weekend slot back on BBC Radio in 2005, this time on Radio 2.  A year later he was promoted to the drive-time show.

After Christmas, Evans will take over from Wogan and will be directly competing with Chris Moyles and his Radio 1 team.

In recent RAJAR reports, Moyles has been closing the gap on the Radio 2 breakfast show.  In Q2 2009, Radio 1 secured a weekly reach of more than 7.7 million listeners, following an impressive year on year increase of 7.1%.