Chris Evans and Top Gear has been under constant over the last few months and it looks like reinforcements have finally arrived.
His friends insist that he has become the victim of a "vindictive witch hunt" after earlier reports stated that Evans had made a producer cry. These reports were dismissed by the BBC and a source who works with Evans stated:“Many of the allegations are presented without a shred of evidence because they are not true."
The source added: “It is not fair. This is clearly a witch hunt and some of the claims are laughable. I’ve been told that no one at the BBC has ever witnessed such a vindictive, unfounded campaign.”
Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan and BBC Studios director Mark Linsey also defended Evans, stating: “The assertion that Chris Evans’ behaviour at Radio 2 since beginning work at Top Gear has been in any way below BBC acceptable levels is completely untrue.”
The 'Anti-Evans' camp remains strong though as former business partner John Revell who worked with Evans at Radio 1 and Virgin has called for BBC Chief Tony Hall to suspend him. Reveal has accused the Beeb of bosses of displaying "utter hypocrisy".
Revell commented: He’s out of control. I had hoped he’d got to an age where he would have stopped bullying and shouting and screaming at people, but by all accounts he hasn’t. The BBC is unable to control him.” Revell also said that the BBC were afraid to investigate Evans and described the BBC management as "spineless".
The BBC responded to Revell's comments, stating: “There is nothing to investigate as the accusation that Chris’s behaviour has fallen below the standards required of BBC staff since taking on Top Gear are completely untrue – something we have made clear a number of times.”