Evans launches court action

Former television presenter and DJ Chris Evans was today launching a multi-million UK High Court action against his former bosses, Virgin Radio.

Evans, 36, claims £8.6m (€12.66m) in share options was withheld after his contract was terminated.

The former presenter of Channel 4’s TFI Friday says he was unfairly dismissed by Virgin Radio who sacked him after he missed a series of broadcasts.

The sacking came soon after his marriage to pop star Billie Piper in Las Vegas in May 2001, 12 months after they met on TFI Friday.

He is claiming he is entitled to 4,981,420 shares in Scottish Media Group, Virgin Radio’s owners, and a further 1,245,355 shares in SMG TV.

SMG is claiming he breached his contract “in a highly public manner”.