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Warrington Lad.! Chris Evans takes over at Virgin Radio
Chris Evans: from the studio to the boardroom
A smiling Chris Evans walked into work at Virgin Radio in London on Tuesday morning with more than his breakfast show on his mind - having bought a controlling stake in the station.
"It's great to be boss. It's brilliant," he said. "It's a very good day."
The DJ invested _2m plus his stake in his Ginger Productions Company, valued at _30m.
The rest of the money came from investment group Apax Partners and French bankers Paribas.
The former BBC Radio 1 breakfast show presenter, along with his Ginger partners and Mr Revell, will own 55% of the station and Apax will take a 20% stake.
The decision by Virgin's boss, Richard Branson, to sell to the DJ scuppered a bid by Capital Radio, which had been held up by a Monopolies and Mergers Commission inquiry.
Capital Radio is already Britain's largest radio group, with a string of stations around the country as well as two London licences.
The MMC report was originally due in 10 days' time but was put back until the New Year, when it still would have needed consideration by the Department of Trade and Industry.
In a statement to the Stock Exchange, Capital Radio's Group Chief Executive, David Mansfield, said: "Clearly we are surprised and disappointed by this decision."
Difficult keeping mum
Chris Evans laughed and joked his way through his three-hour morning show.
Referring to Richard Branson, he said: "God is Sir Dickie and I'm his son."
Thanking lawyers and financial backers for helping to clinch the deal, he disclosed that he had had to keep the news a secret since Saturday.
"It's been hard to keep quiet but I can tell you this isn't the end, it's just the beginning," he said.
 
Additional Information
1995 British Comedy Awards Prizes
Best Entertainment Series: 
* Don't Forget Your Toothbrush 
Barrymore 
The Fantasy Football League 
Top Channel 4 Entertainment Presenter: 
* Chris Evans (Don't Forget Your Toothbrush) 
Antoine de Caunes/Jean-Paul Gaultier (Eurotrash) 
Gaby Roslin (The Big Breakfast) 
Foreign Versions of Don't Forget Your Toothbrush
Belgium: 
Uhhh... Vergeet je Tandenborstel Niet 
Australia: 
 
 
Tim Ferguson was the Host. 
Don Mischer's own future includes the pilot he directed and produced with Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the variety game show Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, which is patterned after the hit English program of the same name and has been picked up by ABC as a mid-season series. 
Ambra Angiolini presented "Non Dimenticate Lo Spazzolino da Denti" (the italian version of Don't 
Forget Your Toothbrush, on Italia 1 up to 5/1/97). It was described by the Canale 5 
programme "Target" as an example of "trash tv" due to certain activities which were being carried out in 
the programme! Spectators would do anything for some money... like girls kissing their underpants on tv 
or guys being given disgusting snails to eat. 
1995 New York Festival Award Winner for TV Programming and Promotion - 
A Bronze Wordmedal for 
"Don't Forget Your Toothbrush" 
Producer: Jon Harvey 
Personalities: Chris Evans 
Graphics: Gary Keenan 

Kellogg's scrapped a £4m deal with Virgin Radio after they signed-up motormouth Chris Evans. Corn Flakes sponsored Virgin's axed breakfast show hosts Russ and Jono. But the deal went soggy after the station signed gingernut Evans to take over on Monday for a reputed £20,000 a week. The TFI host constantly fell-foul of radio watchdogs and parents with sleazy banter during his Radio One days. Last night a company spokesman said: "Kell-ogg's won't be associated with the Chris Evans show. "Our deal was with Russ and Jono's breakfast experience and it was working well for Corn Flakes. "As they are no longer doing the show the deal with them ended and we decided to terminate it. "We just decided to re-evaluate our involvement. "Our decision has nothing to do with Chris Evans taking over. "În fact we understand he's a big fan of Rice Kri-spies." Russ Williams and Jono Coleman will move to the 4pm-7pm drivetime slot. "They have a load of loyal fans," Virgin said. The station hopes Kellogg's will decide to sponsor the wacky pair's new three-hour show.