It's Not What You Think
Page 36
We remain the nearest of hearts, the best of brothers.
NAME: Minnie Evans, Chris’s mum
I remember the first time our Chrissie was ever on the radio.
Every Sunday morning as a family we used to listen to a show on Piccadilly Radio called Tripe and Onions. It was more for children than adults really but the kids liked it so we used to have to listen to it as well. It was quite good actually.
This particular week they ran a write-in competition following an item on size. There were three questions:
1. What is the tallest structure in the UK?
2. What is the tallest mountain in the UK?
3. What is the unit of measurement for measuring the height of horses?
As the rest of the family called out the various answers back at the radio Chris said nothing, we thought he wasn’t listening but we were wrong.
Five minutes later he asked his dad if he could have a postcard. He had heard all the answers and wanted to enter the competition. He took a stamp from the top drawer and ran off to the post box to send in his entry.
The next week we received a phone call from a nice lady at the station asking to speak to our Chrissie. It turned out he had only gone and won the damn thing and they wanted him to appear on the show to accept the prize. They always invited all the kids who won onto the show to encourage other children listening to join in.
After I had gone back on the phone to confirm we could get him to Manchester for the programme the following weekend, a miniature scene broke as it was his sister and brother who had known the answers and they wanted to go as well. In the end it was decided we would all make the trip, including Dad.
The radio station were very good as they gave each of them a prize. Chrissie and Diane received a Spacehopper each and David received a pile of records.
Chrissie was also interviewed, during which he supplied the answers to the questions as well as telling the interviewer a few things about himself. These included him sharing the fact that his hobby was building model aeroplanes.
‘And does your Mum let you hang them from your bedroom ceiling?’ the lady asked.
‘No, she throws them in the bin when I’m at school,’ came his reply.
This was an out and out bare-faced lie but of course everybody believed the sweet ginger-haired little boy and not me, his hard-working mum who bought him the flippin’ things.
Having said that he’s not a bad lad really. I am very proud of him but no more than any of my other children or grandchildren.
P.S. The answers to the questions, by the way, were: The Post Office Tower, Ben Nevis, and ‘hands’.
* * *
Plate section page 1, the answers to the questions:
1. Llandudno, North Wales, 1959.
2. The last boy in the line.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my agent Michael Foster for making me sign a contract which meant I had to write this book otherwise I would be put in jail.
I would like to thank Belinda Budge, my publisher at HarperCollins, for being so enthusiastic and supportive, right from the off.
Most of all I would like to thank Natalie Jerome, my editor, who has been incredibly dedicated to this cause. She even stayed at our house for a whole week—overnight bag and all. Nat, you are the best. (I told her she definitely wasn’t allowed to edit this bit.)
About the Author
Chris Evans began his broadcasting career at Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio, going on to become a household name in TV and radio. With his production company Ginger, he launched and presented the hugely successful Channel 4 shows The Big Breakfast, Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush and TFI Friday. In 1996 Chris joined Radio 1, hosting the flagship breakfast show, which attracted 7.5m listeners. After his controversial departure he then joined Virgin Radio’s breakfast show, eventually acquiring the station from Richard Branson for £87m.
He went on to sell the Ginger Media Group (including Virgin Radio) in 2000 for £225m. In 2005 Chris joined Radio 2, declaring it his spiritual home, his show picking up four prestigious Sony Awards in as many years. He has since succeeded Sir Terry Wogan on The Breakfast Show, exceeding his listening figures, and has joined the popular The One Show as co-host on Fridays.
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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2009
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© Chris Evans 2009
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EPub Edition © SEPTEMBER 2009 ISBN: 978-0-007-32725-6
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