In pictures: Chris Evans's radio and TV career

Don't forget your napkin: Chris Evans celebrates the launch of the Big Breakfast in 1992 with co-presenters Paula Yates and Gaby Roslin, Yates's husband Bob Geldof - whose company, Planet 24, produced the show, and Joanna Lumley. Not sure why Lumley was there. Do you know? Don't phone, it's just for fun! Photograph: Rex Features

In the early days budgets on the Big Breakfast were so tight they couldn't even afford a chair. Here Evans is the biggest thing in front of the box. Soon he would be the biggest thing on it Photograph: Jenny Goodall / Daily Mail / Rex Features/Jenny Goodall / Daily Mail / Rex Features

He was also the biggest thing on the radio. Not quite when this picture was taken, to publicise a short-lived Saturday morning show on Virgin Radio. Two years later he would be presenting breakfast on BBC Radio 1 Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

From left: a Bafta, Chris Evans. The DJ once upon a time known as the 'ginger whinger' won the gong for Channel 4's Don't Forget Your Toothbrush Photograph: Louisa Buller/PA

'They still won't give me Fridays off! Argh!' Evans checks out the small print in his contract in the Radio 1 studio Photograph: Dave Hogan/Rex Features

Which one of these people has the best contacts book? It's 1997 - the year New Labour got into power - and Evans says 'cheese' along with Cherie Blair and Elisabeth Murdoch, who was then still at BSkyB. Note how Matthew Freud - now Murdoch's husband - skilfully manages not to appear in the photo Photograph: Adam Butler/PA

Evans's Radio 1 show was synonomous with Britpop and the Euro 96 football championships. By the time this photo was taken in 1997, Britpop had peaked and England's painful semi-final exit at the hands of Germany was just a painful memory. Evans is pictured with long-time collaborator Danny Baker and Paul Gascoigne - doing his best Max Headroom impression - out on the razzle at the Television and Radio Industries Club awards ceremony in London Photograph: Fiona Hanson/PA

After quitting Radio 1, Evans was hired by Richard Branson to take charge of the breakfast show on Virgin Radio. He liked it so much he bought the company Photograph: PA

Wa-hey! Evans and his new wife Billie Piper enjoy a celebration drink in London on their return from getting married in Las Vegas. He wooed Piper by buying her a rose-filled Ferrari, even though she hadn't passed her driving test Photograph: Steve Bell/Rex Features

Evans has had many highs in his career, but the court case he brought against Virgin Radio parent company Scottish Media Group in 2003 wasn't one of them. He paid £7m to cover SMG's costs and damages after he lost the case that saw him labelled a liar and a prima donna. Fortunately, he could afford it Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

'My bank balance is THIS big!' Evans on the set of ITV1's short-lived OFI Sunday in 2005. By the looks of that outfit, he clearly won the bet Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Chris Evans was one of the celebrities who took part in the All Star Cup, a celebrity golf tournament hosted by Ant and Dec which began life on Sky 1 before it transferred to ITV. The first series featured Michael Douglas, Rob Lowe, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The second featured Bradley Walsh, Phil Tufnell ... and Meat Loaf Photograph: Rex Features

Despite appearances, Evans's fortune means it has been a long time since he has had to look down the back of the sofa for loose change. It's 2006, and he's just been given the Radio 2 drivetime show, taking over from Johnnie Walker Photograph: BBC/PA

'Yes! I get to use the red microphone today!' Evans on air during the Radio 2 drivetime show Photograph: Huw John/Rex Features

Awards have hardly been in short supply since he returned to the airwaves with Radio 2. Along with a whole heap of Sony Radio Academy Awards, he was named radio personality of the year at the GQ men of the year awards in 2008, and was presented with the prize by Will Young at the bash at the Royal Opera House Photograph: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

The Radio 2 DJ has a thing for Ferraris. At least, we think he does, after he paid £5.6m for the 1961 250 GT SWB California Spyder once owned by James Coburn. He also owns six white ones. Here he is pictured outside Radio 2's London studios Photograph: James Curley / Rex Features/Rex Features

Evans, his wife Natasha Shishmanian and newborn baby son, Noah. "I just went for a walk in the garden with my son Noah to contemplate what might happen in the next 24 hours and who knows what else in the next few years," Evans wrote on his blog today. "With the last of the day hanging on to say goodbye, I looked into his seven-month-old big bluey brown eyes as they sparkled magically. He was gazing around in wonder at something he'd never seen before, the magnificence that is the deep green of the trees' leaves surrendering to the first tones of a new season under an already golden sky, his first autumn beginning to take shape" Photograph: Carl Sims/Rex Features

Evans's Dave Lee Travis impression leaves a little to be desired. The comedy beard needs to be a little higher, Chris! He doesn't just play records, you know, here he is commentating during the second round of the Open Championship 2009 at Turnberry Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA

To the Sony Radio Academy Awards, where Chris Evans took on MCing duties from Paul Gambaccini this year, but it didn't stop him picking up two gongs himself. Another prize winner, BBC Radio 5 Live's Shelagh Fogarty, pointed out his similarity to the Proclaimers. 'Oh yes,' he replied, stoney-faced. 'I have never heard that one before.' Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire/Press Association Images