British entertainer Chris Evans today lost a multi-million pound legal action he had brought against the radio station that sacked him after he missed work.
The flamboyant DJ had sought £2.5 million sterling in damages for unfair dismissal and said Virgin Radio's owners owed him shares worth up to £8.6 million.
Evans (36) was sacked in June 2001 after he missed six consecutive shows amid tabloid newspaper reports he had been seen drinking in pubs with his pop star wife, Billie Piper.
Evans had said he was genuinely ill, but Virgin Radio's owners, SMG Plc, declared he had been sacked because he had breached his contract.
At one point during the case, Evans had broken down in tears during cross examination about his drinking.The DJ and media mogul became a multi-millionaire when SMG bought his Ginger Media company, which included the Virgin Radio franchise, for £225 million.
He presented Channel 4's popular Big Breakfastand the game show Don't Forget Your Toothbrushbefore moving to BBC Radio 1.
He returned to TV a year later with the boisterous TFI Friday, a mix of music, games and celebrity guests presented in a pub-style studio.