ShortList is supported by you, our amazing readers. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Learn more

Chris Evans 'not allowed' to host TFI Friday due to Top Gear

Chris Evans 'not allowed' to host TFI Friday due to Top Gear

Chris Evans 'not allowed' to host TFI Friday due to Top Gear
30 September 2015

There can be few busier people in the entertainment world right now than Chris Evans.

Juggling two high-profile jobs would be enough work for most people, but the ginger one is currently embarking on three: ongoing presenter of the Radio 2 daily Breakfast Show, new host of the upcoming new series of Top Gear, and returning writer/presenter of the recently-revived TFI Friday.

So we guess it's not too surprising that something had to give, and he has confirmed that TFI will be the one to go, saying he is "not allowed" to host the show beyond its initial new 10 show run.

After a hugely successful one-off comeback special in June, Channel 4 signed Evans up for a new series of TFI which will go out later this year; however, the announcement that Evans would be hosting it was met with surprise given that he had signed up for Top Gear just days earlier and had strongly hinted during the program that somebody younger should host it, should it make a full comeback. Seemingly, the BBC has now belatedly put its foot down.

Evans told an audience at the Radio Festival in London yesterday, "This is the long goodbye, I am not allowed to do any more TFI Friday." He will probably be disappointed, given that he described the comeback show as "the happiest I have ever been on television", adding, "A lot of the time when we were doing TFI Friday we were literally flying by the seat of our pants, it was hell to live through. With the [special] of TFI we knew we had a golden programme to present, we were more relaxed so we could go and enjoy it."

Evans also confirmed that the new Top Gear would begin in May 2016. It is not known whether Clarkson, Hammond and May's new show - which it is believed will be called Gear Knobs - will go out before or after this date.

So, if TFI gets a second series, who should present it? Vote in our poll below.

(Image: Channel 4)