No return to BBC for Chris Evans

Chris Evans, with singer Billie Piper: No BBC return

The BBC has denied Chris Evans is to make a return to the network, after reports he had met with the corporation's director of programmes.

Reports suggested that a meeting between Evans and the BBC's Lorraine Heggessey were paving the way for his return.

Although it has been confirmed she has met with Evans, it was not to discuss his future with the BBC.

A BBC spokesman said: "The controller has met with Chris Evans, as she does with many artists, but they were not discussing plans for a return to the BBC."

Evans left the BBC acrimoniously in 1997 after falling out with then-Radio 1 controller Matthew Bannister.

The presenter had been refused his request for Fridays off from his slot on the breakfast show.

Media mogul

Evans shot to fame as the frontman on the newly launched Big Breakfast, before joining the BBC.

After his departure from Radio 1 he went on to present and produce TFI Friday for Channel 4, which finished at the end of 2000.

His hugely successful company, Ginger Productions, bought up Virgin Radio from Richard Branson, before Ginger itself was bought by media group SMG for £225m.

The media mogul still presents the breakfast show on Virgin.

He has been back on the front pages of the tabloids of late thanks to his relationship with teenage pop star Billie Piper.

Evans could be poised to buy struggling Second Division football club Swansea City, the club's chairman has said.

It is one of Evans' ambitions to own a club, and he had been linked with a bid for London side QPR.

The South Wales club's chairman Neil McClure confirmed that an agent for Evans had contacted him on Wednesday.