Cruise along with Chris Evans

6:19pm Monday 30th June 2008

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WHEN Johnnie Walker slid out of the BBC’s Drivetime presenters seat a couple of years ago I was gutted.

Who, I thought, could take over the weekdays 5pm-7pm Radio 2 jewel (in my opinion) in the BBC crown and maintain its balance of great music and chat?

Well, I never thought I’d say this, but Chris Evans that’s who.

At first, however, I couldn’t switch on.

To be honest, I was never a big fan of the young and dynamic Chris at the time of The Big Breakfast and TFI Friday.

I didn’t doubt he had enormous natural talent and plenty of zeal.

His style just didn’t seem to press the right button for me in those days. Anyway, being open minded instead of pig headed paid off – I listened to Chris on the Drivetime show! Revelation, oh revelation.

I loved it.

The show is really good.

It’s informative and hilarious in equal measures – and overall extremely entertaining.

The banter is brilliant between Chris and his crew.

He’s sharp, and a captivating presence, and fantastic with listeners on the phone-ins.

The other evening on the way home there was this guy who was waiting for his girlfriend to pick him up at a Tesco: he’d realised that she’d gone to another Tesco store at the other side of the city. So he’d text Chris to tell her over the air that she was waiting for him at the wrong shop.

Also on the same show, the Warrington-born presenter’s sidekick Jonny also mentioned that he’d been in a Greek tragedy at school. It was three hours long.

He admitted that he’d only taken part in the play so that he wouldn’t have to sit and watch it.

It was just sidesplitting to hear both Chris and Jonny talk about it over the airwaves.

Meanwhile, Johnnie W is doing good.

I heard him only yesterday on his Sunday show (4.30pm-6.30pm).

Jack Bruce was the guest, one of the legends of bass playing - and Cream, the rock band, of course.

Next Sunday (July 6), it’s the turn of Nils Lofgren, singer, songwriter and helluva guitarist, who’s also the six-string ace in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.

Tune in, brothers and sisters.