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Chris Evans is making his return to breakfast TV with a 'dream come true' launch that will see his Virgin Radio UK show available to watch.
Chris, 59, who launched iconic Channel 4 entertainment show series TFI Friday, also known as Thank Four It's Friday, thirty years ago will return to screens with the new format.
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show studio has been given a revamp to mark the change, with it starting its first live stream today on the Virgin Radio app, with the help of the original TFI set designer.
Hitting screens from 6:30am on weekdays, the 'game changer' stream will likely remind viewers of the presenters' time on screen on TFI Friday, and Channel 4's The Big Breakfast.
Chris said: 'If you're wondering what we're doing, you've just tuned in, you need to download the Virgin Radio app, you're witnessing us soft launching this TV thing now and so before we used to live stream the show as a radio show, but it's just like a radio show.
'Radio shows are great, of course they are, it's my favourite thing in the world, more than telly will ever be.
Chris Evans is making his return to breakfast TV with a 'dream come true' launch that will see his Virgin Radio UK show available to WATCH
Chris, 59, who launched iconic Channel 4 entertainment show series TFI Friday, also known as Thank Four It's Friday, thirty years ago will return to screens with the new format
'We developed the studio and a brilliant guy called Marcus Blee who designed the original TFI Friday set came back in here and then came around to my house and had a chat to me and my wife and had a look around.
'He said, “I can do that again," and he did this in 48 hours. I thought he just accidentally resent the original TFI images. But no, it's exactly like he designed it.
'Our dreams have come true.'
Chris was joined by comedian Josh Widdicombe for his first broadcast from the studio, who added: 'You know what? It doesn't just reference TFI Friday, but you're doing breakfast TV again now.'
Since the launch, Chris has also been joined by First Dates star Fred Sirieix, and actor James Nesbitt, who starred in Netflix's new hit crime thriller Run Away.
Joining Chris in the studio, the First Dates Maitre d' was seen jumping up and down and cheering, before leaning in for a hug with Chris - much like the excitement brought by guests on hit series TFI.
Chris first became a household name in the early 1990s when he co-presented the Channel 4 lively morning show The Big Breakfast alongside Gaby Roslin.
He went on to create and present Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, before fronting TFI from 1996 to 2000 - a flagship TV series that combined comedy, musical performances and celebrity interviews.
Since the launch, Chris has also been joined by First Dates star Fred Sirieix, and actor James Nesbitt (pictured), who starred in Netflix's new hit crime thriller Run Away
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show studio has been given a revamp to mark the change, with it starting its first live stream today on the Virgin Radio app, with the help of the original TFI set designer
The presenter has also been a major feature on radio since the mid 1990s, presenting Virgin Radio's breakfast show from 1997 to 2001, before joining BBC Radio 2 in 2005.
He went on to present Drivetime in 2006, before taking over the Radio 2 Breakfast show in 2010, taking over from Sir Terry Wogan.
Since 2019, Chris has been the host of the weekday Virgin Radio Breakfast Show.
Last July, Chris was heard breaking down in tears live on air as he bid farewell to his long-running Virgin Radio co-host Vassos Alexander.
The pair worked on the Breakfast programme together for 14 years as well as eight years on Radio 2.
As sports presenter Vassos hosted his final show, Chris became emotional as he reminisced about their time together.
Choking back tears he began: 'I want to thank you for your friendship. I want to thank you for your love...'
Discussing the death of his beloved mother Minnie in 2018, Chris then began to sob as he continued: 'The day my mum died you were amazing, remember? You took over the show.... I can never forget that mate.'
The presenter has also been a major feature on radio since the mid 1990s, presenting Virgin Radio's breakfast show from 1997 to 2001, before joining BBC Radio 2 in 2005
Chris hosted TFI from 1996 to 2000 - a flagship TV series that combined comedy, musical performances and celebrity interviews
Earlier in the programme, Vassos paid tribute to his co-star, 59, describing their stint on the airwaves as the 'honour of my life'.
Virgin Radio also paid tribute to Vassos, sharing a clip of his tribute to Chris that was simply described as being 'The mother of Bromances'.
A visibly emotional Vassos said: 'It has been the honour of my life to work on this show and I still can't quite believe I'm leaving voluntarily.
'Much more importantly, I value our friendship above everything and long may that continue.'
Vassos initially joined The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 in 2011 before the pair moved to the Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio.
Paying further tribute to Chris, Vassos decided to play Chris's favourite song as a parting gift.
He said: 'There's not much we don't know about each other, but I only just discovered this week that this is your favourite song.
'So Chris, your friend Vassos has picked the song Wild West Hero by ELO. Why? Because he loves you.'
'Oh, Vassos. What are we going to do? We can't start crying now.'
TFI was brought back in 2015 marking 20 years since it was first launched
Vassos went on to insist that he was not crying before Chris joked that he doesn't cry either.
He added: 'This is lovely for us, but it is going to be a rubbish listen if we just cry for three hours!'
Vassos's departure from the show was announced back in May when he admitted that while he loved the show, he felt like there was something missing in his life and wanted to pursue other opportunities elsewhere.
He said at the time: 'You've got to follow your heart.'
Further tribute was paid to Vassos by Virgin Radio, who shared a montage of his best moments over the years on social media.
This included clips of the presenter singing, attempting the 'Sprite challenge', where he tried to drink an entire bottle of the drink without burping and head-butting a football.
Listen to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery on the free Virgin Radio app.
