Chris Evans feels "very blessed" to be back on Virgin Radio

Chris - who originally helmed the breakfast show on Virgin Radio for four years until 2001 - began the show by exclaiming: "This is very exciting.

"It's so great to be back on Virgin Radio. It's a real treat, we've very blessed and we couldn't be more grateful"

The first song from the programme was delivered live by Richard Ashcroft, who performed his former group The Verve's classic hit 'Lucky Man' and went on to perform five other tracks on the show, including 'Like A Ship (without a Sail)', 'Bittersweet Symphony', 'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'That's How I Feel It'.

Chris has been succeeded on his Radio 2 slot by Zoe Ball and he revealed she'd sent him a good luck message on Sunday (20.01.19).

He said: "Zoe, thanks for your text message last night, it was very sweet of you."

And the former 'Top Gear' presenter isn't worried about going up against the 48-year-old star for ratings as he thinks "quality" broadcasting is good for everyone.

He said: "If anybody's good at anything, there is room for everyone. It helps with the quality of the business."

As well as Richard, Chris was also joined for his first show by comics Paul Whitehouse, Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett.

The presenter originally hosted Virgin's breakfast show from 1997 until 2001 when he was sacked by the Scottish Media Group, which bought the station in 2000, for "breach of contract" after he failed to turn up for work for the sixth day in succession.

The station, which Chris once owned, went on to be rebranded as Absolute Radio in 2008 before Virgin was given a new lease of life in 2016 when Sir Richard Branson relaunched Virgin Radio UK as a digital station.

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio is available nationally on DAB digital radio, online at www.virginradio.co.uk and on mobile via the Virgin Radio app. Virgin Radio is also available on Sky Channel 0215.