Chris Evans DJ: Career, Health, and Life Now

Few British radio personalities have packed as many reinventions into one career as Chris Evans. The 58-year-old DJ has moved from BBC Radio 1 to Virgin Radio, faced a skin cancer diagnosis, and settled into a new riverside home in Marlow — all while keeping millions of listeners tuning in.

Age: 58 (born 1 April 1966) ·
Net worth (estimated): £30 million ·
Current show: The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio ·
Diagnosis (2023): skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) ·
Residence: Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Six key facts at a glance, drawn from the most authoritative sources available:

The pattern is clear: a career that has consistently generated significant income across radio, television, and live events, but whose exact private wealth remains opaque.

What happened to DJ Chris Evans?

The story of Chris Evans’ recent years is one of deliberate career moves and unexpected health challenges. In September 2018, after 13 years at the helm of the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Evans announced he was leaving. BBC News (the UK’s public-service broadcaster) reported that his departure was not motivated by money, with Evans telling listeners: “I’ve just got to tell you it’s nothing to do with money. There is no rift here whatsoever.”

The BBC also disclosed that Evans had been paid £1.66 million for hosting the Radio 2 breakfast show in 2017-18, and contemporaneous press estimates suggested Virgin Radio would pay him around £2 million a year. Within months, he launched The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio in 2019, marking a return to the station where he had first made his name between 1997 and 2001.

What was Chris Evans diagnosed with?

In August 2023, Evans revealed on air that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer. BBC News (the UK’s public-service broadcaster) reported that doctors had caught the condition quickly, making it highly treatable. The diagnosis was basal cell carcinoma, a common and generally slow-growing form of skin cancer. Evans urged listeners to check their skin, saying: “I just want to say to you all, please, please check your skin.”

By September 2023, Evans announced he was clear of cancer after surgery and pathology review. The BBC noted that he had previously been given the all-clear after a prostate-cancer scare eight years earlier.

When did Chris Evans leave BBC Radio 2?

Evans left the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show in December 2018 after 13 years. Metro (a UK daily newspaper) described him as one of Britain’s best-known presenters, with a career spanning radio and TV including The Big Breakfast, TFI Friday, BBC Radio 1 breakfast, Virgin Radio, Radio 1 Drivetime, The One Show, and Top Gear. His departure marked the end of an era for BBC Radio 2, which had seen his breakfast show draw millions of daily listeners.

What does Chris Evans do now?

Since January 2019, Evans has hosted The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio, broadcasting weekday mornings across the UK. The show combines music, celebrity interviews, and his trademark energetic style. He also founded and runs CarFest, an annual family festival that raises money for BBC Children in Need and other charities.

• Hosts The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio (weekdays, 6:30-10am)
• Founded CarFest in 2012, which has raised millions for charity
• Makes occasional TV appearances, including on The One Show and Top Gear in the past

What is the Chris Evans Breakfast Show?

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio is the flagship morning program of the station. It features a mix of music, interviews with celebrities and newsmakers, listener interaction, and Evans’ signature blend of enthusiasm and spontaneity. The show has consistently performed well in listening figures since its launch, establishing Virgin Radio as a serious competitor to BBC Radio 2 in the breakfast slot.

What is CarFest?

CarFest is a motoring and music festival founded by Evans in 2012. Held annually at multiple locations across the UK, it combines classic cars, live music from top artists, and family activities. Wikipedia (the crowd-sourced encyclopedia) notes that the event has raised over £15 million for BBC Children in Need and other charities since its inception. The festival reflects Evans’ well-known passion for cars and his ability to turn personal interests into large-scale public events.

What this means: Evans has successfully transitioned from BBC employee to independent media entrepreneur, controlling his own schedule, brand, and revenue streams.

Where does Chris Evans DJ live now?

Evans lives in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, a picturesque town on the River Thames about 40 miles west of London. In 2024, he purchased a £3.5 million riverside property in the area, according to multiple property and lifestyle reports. The move to Marlow reflects a shift toward a quieter, more family-oriented lifestyle while still maintaining easy access to London for his radio commitments.

Inside Chris Evans’ £3.5m riverside home in Marlow

The Marlow property is a modern, detached home with direct river access, multiple bedrooms, and extensive grounds. While Evans has not publicly shared interior photos or full details, the purchase price of £3.5 million places it among the more desirable homes in the area. Marlow itself has become a popular location for media personalities and business figures seeking a blend of countryside tranquility and commuter convenience.

The implication: the move signals a deliberate lifestyle choice — investing in a permanent family home rather than the London-centric bachelor pad of his earlier career.

Who is Chris Evans’ wife?

Evans married Natasha Shishmanian in 2023. She is a television producer and director, known for her work on shows including The Only Way Is Essex and Made in Chelsea. The couple’s wedding was a private affair, and they have kept details of their relationship relatively low-key compared to Evans’ previous high-profile marriage.

Chris Evans DJ ex wife

Evans was previously married to actress Billie Piper from 2001 to 2007. The marriage was highly publicized at the time, given Piper’s fame as a pop star and actress (Doctor Who) and Evans’ status as one of the UK’s top broadcasters. The couple divorced in 2007, and Evans has since spoken about the relationship in reflective terms, acknowledging the pressures of media scrutiny.

Chris Evans DJ wife (Natasha Shishmanian)

Natasha Shishmanian, now Natasha Evans, works in television production. She and Evans married in 2023 in a ceremony attended by close friends and family. The couple live together in Marlow with Evans’ children from previous relationships. The marriage represents a new chapter for Evans, who has spoken about the importance of family stability in his later career.

The pattern: Evans’ personal life has evolved from tabloid fodder to a settled family existence, mirroring the broader transition in his professional life from high-octane BBC star to more measured commercial broadcaster.

Is Chris Evans an LGBTQ ally?

Evans has publicly positioned himself as a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights. In 2019, when a proposal for a “Straight Pride Parade” emerged in Boston, Massachusetts, Evans publicly criticised the idea. He responded on social media with a message that framed the proposal as unnecessary and divisive, given the historical context of Pride as a response to discrimination. His stance was widely reported and praised by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.

The implication: Evans’ public alignment with LGBTQ+ equality reflects a broader shift in his public persona — from the laddish, boundary-pushing DJ of the 1990s to a more considered, inclusive broadcaster in his later career.

“I just want to say to you all, please, please check your skin.”

— Chris Evans, speaking on Virgin Radio after his skin cancer diagnosis, August 2023 (BBC News (the UK’s public-service broadcaster))

“It’s been an absolute privilege to be part of the Radio 2 family.”

— Chris Evans, announcing his departure from BBC Radio 2, September 2018 (BBC News (the UK’s public-service broadcaster))

“I’ve just got to tell you it’s nothing to do with money. There is no rift here whatsoever.”

— Chris Evans, addressing speculation about his move from BBC to Virgin Radio, 2018 (BBC News (the UK’s public-service broadcaster))

Looking back at a career spanning three decades, Evans has navigated health scares, network switches, and personal reinvention with remarkable consistency. The thread running through it all: an ability to connect with listeners through genuine enthusiasm and a willingness to be open about his life.

For the UK radio audience, the choice is clear: Evans remains a dominant force in breakfast radio, and his move to Marlow signals a long-term commitment to a quieter, family-focused life — but one that still keeps him on the air every morning. For anyone wondering what happened to the DJ who once ruled Radio 2, the answer is simple: he’s still here, still talking, and still drawing a crowd.

Related reading: **Chris Moyles: Biography, Weight Loss, Feud, and Personal Life**

Frequently asked questions