Chris Evans: 'I was like Russell Brand'

Chris Evans has said that there are similarities between the excesses of his Radio 1 breakfast programme in the 1990s and Russell Brand's controversial Radio 2 broadcasts.

The DJ told The Guardian that he had done some unkind things on his show in the past because of the "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll" nature of the programme.

Evans said: "But I was aggressive. Talking about sex at breakfast should not have been on the agenda, while there were kids listening. Somebody should have got hold of me afterwards and said, 'Don't do that anymore'."

Regarding Brand's phone calls to Andrew Sachs, he added: "It's not dissimilar, is it? There's definitely an imbalance when you're talking about young producers and very famous, very rich, very confident presenters.

"But what's the similarity between those two shows? They were both independent productions and both the people hosting them owned the production company. That shouldn't happen because there's massive conflicts of interest.

"With Russell's programme - I think it just lacked a bit of content. When you lack content as a performer you feel you have to deliver, then you feel like you have to go to places you shouldn't."

Evans will move from Radio 2's drivetime programme to the station's breakfast show next year, replacing Terry Wogan in the slot.