‘Volatile’ Chris Evans upsets staff at BBC Radio 2

New Top Gear front-man Chris Evans has been labelled as being more volatile than his predecessor Jeremy Clarkson, according to an insider at the BBC. News has emerged that Evans upset staff at BBC Radio 2 this week, as he struggles to balance his Top Gear / breakfast radio show work duties.

The Sun has revealed that his radio team are becoming increasingly concerned about his outbursts and diva-style behaviour in the studio, and according to an insider, one recent incident saw Evans shout so viciously that the producer was reduced to tears and an engineer had to tell him to stop. “Chris’s ego is out of control and he’s behaving far worse than Clarkson ever did – which is the opposite of what the Top Gear change was meant to create,” the source said. “The Radio 2 show is the country’s most popular. But Chris is turning up exhausted and miserable and his staff have noticed a huge difference. Top Gear’s a full-time job, but Radio 2 involves waking at dawn every day. It’s probably no surprise he seems close to breaking point.”

Media regulator Ofcom is still investigating whether Evans’ radio show broke rules when actor Jeremy Irons swore on air last month. Irons said the word “fucked” during an anecdote about John Hurt while being interviewed on the programme, which is listened to by nearly 10 million listeners a week, including a large proportion of children.

The BBC Director of Studios Mark Linsey and Radio 2 boss Bob Shennan have both issued a statement backing Evans, saying “Since taking on Top Gear alongside his Radio 2 breakfast show, Chris has displayed even greater commitment and professionalism.”